Karnataka Lokayukta Prepares to Summon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in MUDA Case
Mysuru: The Karnataka Lokayukta is advancing its investigation into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, with plans to issue a summons to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, sources revealed on Saturday. As part of the ongoing probe, officials are currently verifying statements from Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, who is the second accused in the case. Once this procedural work is complete, the Lokayukta is expected to formally notify the Chief Minister to appear for questioning.
The investigation has already seen the Lokayukta question the third accused, Mallikarjuna Swamy, who is Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law, along with landowner J. Devaraju. According to sources, CM Siddaramaiah is likely to be questioned after the Diwali festival.
Additionally, the Special Court for MLAs and MPs has directed the Lokayukta to submit a comprehensive report by December 25. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also involved in the investigation, having recently conducted raids on the MUDA office in Mysuru and Devaraju’s residence in Bengaluru’s Kengeri locality. Reports suggest that the ED may further investigate the residences of both CM Siddaramaiah and his wife.
A petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna in the High Court has called for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the MUDA case, raising concerns about the independence of the Lokayukta’s investigation given the state government’s involvement.
Parvathi Siddaramaiah was questioned for three hours at the Mysuru Lokayukta office, appearing without drawing media attention. During her statement, which was recorded on video, she explained that she had used whitener to correct a mistake in a letter submitted to the MUDA regarding compensatory site allotments. However, she could not recall the specifics of the error.
This ongoing investigation poses a potential setback for the ruling Congress party, particularly as it faces crucial by-elections in three assembly constituencies within the state. The political implications of the Lokayukta’s findings could significantly impact the party’s standing ahead of the elections.
