Bengaluru (Journalist File ) : The Karnataka Lokayukta police have issued summons to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the land allotment case involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The summons require the Chief Minister to appear for questioning on November 6.
A senior Lokayukta officer confirmed the issuance of the summons to the Chief Minister, who responded affirmatively, stating, "Yes, the Mysuru Lokayukta police have sent notices concerning the MUDA case. I will appear before the Lokayukta in Mysuru on November 6."
This inquiry follows the questioning of Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvati, by the Lokayukta police on October 25. The investigation revolves around land transactions involving Parvati's brother, Mallikarjuna Swamy, and another individual, Devaraju Swamy, who reportedly purchased land and gifted it to her. The land in question has been embroiled in controversy, leading to the filing of an FIR by the Lokayukta police on September 27.
In 2021, the MUDA acquired three acres of land from Parvati in the village of Kesaré for urban development in Mysuru. In return, she was allocated land in Vijayanagar, located in southern Mysuru. However, allegations surfaced claiming that the market value of land in Vijayanagar was significantly higher than that in Kesaré, raising suspicions of irregularities in the land allocations by the MUDA. RTI activist Ibrahim filed a complaint, prompting further scrutiny.
Despite Siddaramaiah initially asserting that no wrongdoing had occurred, he later returned the plots allocated to his wife back to the MUDA. Nonetheless, the Chief Minister continues to face challenges, as the recent summons from the Lokayukta police has heightened the intrigue surrounding the case. Following calls for an inquiry into the allegations against him, the Governor recently ordered an investigation, which Siddaramaiah has contested in the High Court without obtaining relief.
As the developments unfold, the scrutiny on Siddaramaiah’s dealings with the MUDA intensifies, raising questions about transparency in land allotments within the state.
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