Karnataka High Court Dismisses Siddaramaiah’s Plea in MUDA Land Scam Case.

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, challenging the legality of Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s decision to prosecute him over alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case. The bench, led by Justice M Nagaprasanna, affirmed that the Governor possesses the authority to make independent decisions regarding prosecutions.

The Court emphasized that the allegations outlined in Siddaramaiah’s plea warranted further investigation. The sanction for prosecution was granted in July after complaints from activists TJ Abraham, Snehamai Krishna, and Pradeep Kumar SP.

The case involves the controversial allotment of 14 premium sites in Mysuru to Siddaramaiah’s wife, BM Parvathi, as compensation for 3.16 acres of land acquired by the government. Critics, including social activists and members of the BJP, assert that this allotment was unlawful and caused substantial losses to the state treasury. Allegations also include claims of illegal land acquisition by Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law, Mallikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, using forged documents.

This ruling follows Siddaramaiah’s move to challenge the Governor’s order on August 19, and the hearing was completed on September 12. The dismissal underscores the ongoing scrutiny of land transactions and governance in Karnataka, reinforcing the need for accountability in public office. Further developments in the case are anticipated as the investigation proceeds.