The Lokayukta’s clean chit to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA land scam has triggered a political slugfest, with the BJP alleging that the state government handpicked the officers investigating the case and the Congress hitting back and saying that the issue was politically motivated.

The Lokayukta on Thursday submitted an 11,000-page closure report to the Special Court for MLAs and MPs in Bengaluru in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case against Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjunswamy and landowner J Devaraju. The allegation is that Siddaramaiah’s wife was allotted 14 sites in Vijayanagar Layout, an upmarket area in Mysuru, as compensation for the use of 3.16 acres of land in Kesare village near the city. An anti-corruption activist had complained that this had caused a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state.

Siddaramaiah has maintained that there was no wrongdoing in the transactions, asserting that the plots were gifted to his wife by her brother. 

Writing to one of the complainants, the Lokayukta had said on Wednesday that there was not enough evidence to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah and the charges seemed civil in nature and not “suitable for criminal charges”.

The BJP has said it has faith in the Lokayukta but insisted that the investigation was not conducted properly. 

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “We have full confidence in the Lokayukta, whereas the police officers who have investigated have been transferred, appointed, given postings by the same Siddaramaiah. We cannot expect a fair inquiry and this is an eyewash. If Siddaramaiah wants to come clean, he should hand over the case to the CBI, otherwise a high court-monitored investigation should be done.”

The Congress, however, hit out at the BJP and accused it of being okay with Lokayukta orders or rulings as long as they were in its favour.

“I had said in the beginning itself, when BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) did their padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru, that it (allegation) is politically motivated. His (Siddaramaiah) signature was not there, he had nothing to do with it. His family had lost the property and had asked for a claim, everyone does that whether it is me or you, and he was given (alternative sites). There was no demand for allotment in a specific place,” Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 

“There should be evidence to file any case, but in this case there was no evidence. Lokayukta have done their duty, if they (complainants) have any objections, let them fight (legally)… Lokayukta is not just the police, it is an independent body, the Chief Minister has no control over it. If any official has to be appointed to the body, it is only after taking the approval of the Lokayukta,” he added. 
 

Bengaluru:

Karnataka anti-corruption watchdog Lokayukta said Wednesday it had found no evidence incriminating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, or his wife, in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority land scam case.

In a notice to the complainant – Snehamayi Krishna, one three anti-corruption activists who wrote last year to Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, seeking Siddaramaiah’s prosecution – the Lokayukta said there is no material to prove charges against the ex-Chief Minister and the other accused – his wife, BM Parvathi, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, who owned the plots in question.

“Since allegations against Accused No 1 (Siddaramaiah) to Accused No 4 have not been proven due to lack of evidence, the final report is being submitted to the High Court,” the Lokayukta told Krishna.

Krishna has been given a week to respond, after which the Lokayukta will submit a final report.

However, compensatory land allotments by MUDA between 2016 and 2024 – including those to Siddaramaiah’s wife, BM Parvathi, when too he was Chief Minister, and which are at the heart of the controversy – will remain “under scrutiny”, and a supplementary report will be given to the court.

The MUDA land scam pertains to allotment of land to Siddaramaiah’s wife.

Anti-corruption activists had alleged irregularities in the process – the grant of plots in a posh neighbourhood in Mysuru in exchange for land on the outskirts – cost the state Rs 45 crore.

They wrote to the Governor, in accordance with the law, to file a case the Chief Minister. That request was approved, but the Governor’s nod was swiftly challenged in the Karnataka High Court.

In September the court rejected the challenge and upheld the Governor’s order.

The case against Siddaramaiah was filed 24 hours later.

The Chief Minister has repeatedly denied any impropriety in these transactions, claiming the 14 plots of land allotted to his wife were, in fact, gifts from her brother.

These complaints named the Chief Minister and his wife, as well as his son S Yathindra and senior officials from the urban development body. In the ensuing fallout, MUDA chief K Mari Gowda, who is known to be close to Siddaramaiah, stepped down, saying he had been “instructed” to do so.

This was after the Chief Minister’s wife offered to surrender the parcels of land in question, and MUDA agreed to re-take possession on condition it would not affect the course of the investigation.

The clean chit, although not confirmed yet, for Siddaramaiah will be seen as a massive political win for the ruling Congress, which came under heavy fire from the BJP after the allegations broke cover.

The BJP and the JDU, a former Congress ally now with the saffron party, had demanded Siddaramaiah resign and called on the Central Bureau of Investigation to take up the case.

Any CBI action, though, was pre-empted by the state withdrawing general consent, on grounds it is “biased”, for the federal agency to act on its territory, a move criticised by the opposition.

Siddaramaiah had then refused to resign, pointing out the investigation into charges against him had uncovered nothing and he had not yet been convicted of any crime.

“I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally,” he said after the Karnataka High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor’s sanction.

With input from agencies

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Bengaluru:

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday that he is confident of getting justice by the judiciary in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam.

Siddaramaiah is the accused number one and his wife BM Parvathi is named as the second accused in the case.

The Dharwad bench of Karnataka High Court has reserved the matter for judgment in the petition seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the MUDA case.

Answering a query on whether he has any concerns over the development, Siddaramaiah said, “Why should I be concerned? How will I know what will be the verdict by the judge? Why should I be worried? I have faith that I will get justice.”

Asked about the stay on the notice issued to his wife Parvathi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Chief Minister said, “The court has stayed the notice issued by the ED. The judge has questioned the ED on what is the hurry in this regard. The court had further observed that the investigation is ongoing and the matter is being reserved for judgment on whether to hand over the case to the CBI. The court had said that the hurry in this regard at this stage is inappropriate.”

Answering a query on whether the issue of notice by the ED is politically motivated, he said, “Is it not? The entire MUDA case itself is politically motivated.”

The Dharwad bench of Karnataka High Court, headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, on Monday stayed the summons issued by the ED to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, B.M. Parvathi, and State Urban Development Minister, Byrathi Suresh, in connection with the MUDA land scam.

The bench questioned the urgency of the ED’s actions, asking, “What is the tearing hurry?” while passing the order.

Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, who has been named as the second accused in the case, was asked to appear before the ED on Tuesday (January 28).

Minister Byrathi Suresh, a close confidant of the Chief Minister, was scheduled to appear before ED officers on Monday.

Both Parvathi and Suresh had separately approached the court, seeking relief and requesting a stay on the ED summons.

The High Court granted a stay on the ED’s summons until February 10, pending the next hearing in the case.

The Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court, headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, had reserved its judgment on Monday regarding the petition seeking an investigation by the CBI into the MUDA scam. This decision followed the conclusion of arguments and counterarguments in the case.

It has been alleged that Siddaramaiah used his political influence to secure compensation for 14 sites in the name of his wife in exchange for 3 acres and 16 guntas of land acquired by the MUDA.

The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, objected to the ongoing probe by the Karnataka Lokayukta and sought a CBI investigation into the scam.

While reserving the matter for judgment, the bench also directed the Karnataka Lokayukta to continue its investigation into the MUDA scam and to submit its further report on the day of the judgment.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Lokayukta on Monday submitted the investigation report in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam to the High Court Dharwad bench. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is the accused number one, and his wife B.M. Parvathi is the second accused in the case.

The Mysuru Lokayukta Superintendent of Police, T.J. Udesh submitted the report in a sealed cover to the court. The court had earlier directed the Lokayukta to submit the report without fail in this regard.

The bench took up the hearing of the petition submitted by activist Snehamayi Krishna, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the MUDA scam.

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty made a submission before the bench to grant time for placing arguments against the petition and further prayed that this matter could be taken up later when the court resumes functioning in Bengaluru after vacation.

However, the bench refusing to yield, directed the AG to place the arguments without any delay. The AG requested that counsel Kapil Sibal would appear before the court and sought time. The bench, however, stated that the arguments could be placed through video conferencing. The AG then submitted that there was a technical issue with the video conferencing, following which the bench directed to fix the issue and place the arguments in the day only.

Senior Counsel Dushyanth Dave appearing for the fourth accused, land owner J. Devaraju in the MUDA case, submitted that his client is not facing criminal charges and, in this background, there is no necessity for the CBI probe. He further submitted that the petition had been filed to embarrass Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

“The petitioner earlier sought the Lokayukta investigation before the court and when the Lokayukta investigation was progressing, he submitted a petition seeking the CBI probe. The court should not waste a single moment over the petition,” he argued. he added that while filing the complaint, the petitioner concealed many facts related to the case. “The petitioner has concealed the order of mutation and revenue department documents which prove that Devaraju was the owner of the property,” Dave said.

Earlier, counsel Manindar Singh appeared for petitioner Snehamayi Krishna and concluded his submission over the matter. He submitted to the court how until the writ petition was filed before the court, the FIR was not registered in the case.

Commenting on the development, Snehamayi Krishna stated, “I have full confidence that the case would be handed over to the CBI. The Lokayukta is not conducting the investigation appropriately. We have submitted the evidence and documents to prove that Lokayukta sleuths are colluded with the accused persons in the case.”

“In this backdrop and taking the rampant corruption into consideration, based on the evidence and documents submitted in this regard, we are hoping that today the court will hand over the case to the CBI,” he stated.

When asked about rumours claiming that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathi may get a clean chit in the Lokayukta investigation, Snehamayi Krishna stated, “I don’t have official information on this. I got to know through the media. It is impossible to give a clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. We have provided enough documents to prove charges against him.”

“The news is that officers are being fixed in the MUDA scam. I want to question, how is that the officers, who do not make any mistakes in other cases, commit mistakes in matters connected to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. It shows that they are influenced,” he stated.

“I have not filed a complaint on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family alone. I have taken that as an example and filed a complaint on the illegal allotment of thousands of sites by the MUDA to influential people. Many politicians, powerful and officers are involved in the scam. I have requested for comprehensive probe,” Krishna stated.

“Against this backdrop, I am vouching for the CBI probe. I would not have insisted on the CBI probe, if it would have been just the case of allotment of 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sites illegally,” he said.

When asked whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would resign if the matter is handed over to the CBI, he stated, “I hope that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resigns from his post once the matter is handed over to the CBI. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is suffering setbacks legally and we are emerging victorious. If the court hands over the case to the CBI, it would be a serious setback for him. Considering the actions that follow, he might tender resignation or the party high command might ask him to step down,” he stated.

It is alleged that Siddaramaiah used his political influence to get compensation for 14 sites in the name of his wife B.M. Parvathi in lieu of three acres and 16 guntas of land acquired by the MUDA.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a notice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife B.M. Parvathi, the second accused in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. The Enforcement Directorate has also issued a notice to the Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, the close confidante of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, sources confirmed on Monday.

Sources reveal that the Enforcement Directorate had issued notice to Chief Minister’s wife on January 23 and directed his wife Parvathi to appear before the Enforcement Directorate officials on January 27 (Monday). Minister Suresh has also been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate sleuths.

Following this, Chief Minister’s wife Parvathi and Minister Suresh have approached the Karnataka High Court questioning the summons issued to them by the Enforcement Directorate.

New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has attached more than 140 units of immovable assets worth about Rs 300 crore in a MUDA-linked money laundering case involving Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others.

The attachment is part of a money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in land allotment by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The attached properties are registered in the name of various individuals who are working as real-estate businessmen and agents, the federal agency said in a statement.

“It is alleged that Siddaramaiah (a Congress leader) used his political influence to get compensation for 14 sites in the name of his wife Smt. BM Parvathi in lieu of 3 acres 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA.

“The land was originally acquired by MUDA for Rs 3,24,700. The compensation in the form of 14 sites at posh locality is worth Rs 56 crore,” the agency said.

The chief minister, who has been questioned by the Karnataka Lokayukta in this case, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by him or his family, saying the opposition was “scared” of him and that these were politically motivated charges.

The role of ex-MUDA commissioner D B Natesh has emerged as “instrumental” in the illegal allotment of compensation sites to Parvathi, the agency said.

It said searches conducted in the case found that a large number of sites, other than the 14 allotted to Parvathi, have been “illegally” allotted by the MUDA as compensation to real estate businessmen, who in turn have sold these sites at “huge” profit and generated huge amount of “unaccounted” cash.

The profit so generated has been “laundered” and shown as derived out of legitimate sources, it claimed.

Sites have been allotted in the name of “benami and dummy” persons of influential names and real estate businessmen, the agency alleged.

Incriminating “evidence” regarding payment of illegal gratification to then MUDA chairman and MUDA Commissioner in the form of immovable property, MUDA sites, cash, etc., were recovered during the raids, it alleged.

It has also been found that money was routed through a co-operative society for purchase of property, luxury vehicles etc in the name of relatives of G T Dinesh Kumar, who was the previous commissioner of MUDA, the agency alleged.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been summoned by the Lokayukta for questioning on Wednesday in the Mysuru land scam case. The Lokayukta Police have already questioned the Chief Minister’s wife, Parvathi BM, in connection with the case. Asked if he would answer the summons for questioning, Mr Siddaramaiah answered in the affirmative this evening.

The summons come after a court declared that Governor Thaawarchand Gahlot was within his rights to allow an investigation against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta. 

The Lokayukta has already filed a First Information Report on the orders of a special court. Besides Mr Siddaramaiah and his wife, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju and others have been named in the FIR.

Mr Siddaramaiah has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the allegations against him are politically motivated.

The case is linked to the allotment of 14 high value plots — located in an upmarket area in Mysuru — to Ms Parvathi as compensation against her 3.16 acres of land in Kesare village near the city. 

Activists have alleged that this had caused a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state. 

An anti-corruption activist had filed a complaint. The activist has also alleged that the land, shown to be gifted to Ms Parvathi by her brother, was illegally acquired by him.

BM Parvathi has already offered to return the land to MUDA, which has agreed to take the plots back.

There have been allegations that Siddaramaiah has destroyed evidence in the alleged land scam case. A complaint has been filed which also names the Chief Minister’s son Yathindra.

The allegations against the Chief Minister have sparked a massive political row in Karnataka, with the BJP demanding his resignation. 
 

Mysuru:

 Asserting that he only indulged in politics of honesty, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is facing probe into the MUDA ‘scam’ case, on Tuesday said despite being a CM he doesn’t own a house, and accused the opposition parties of making false allegations against him.

He also claimed that the opposition, especially the BJP is unable to stomach that Mr Siddaramaiah, a person belonging to the backward class has become the Chief Minister of the state for a second time.

Mr Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Mr Siddaramaiah’s wife, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju — from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi — and others are named as other accused in the case by Lokayukta.

“Being a Chief Minister, should I live in a rented house? In someone’s house? Tell me. Why I’m telling you this is because you are my owners and masters. You blessed me…” he said.

Speaking at a public meeting in his Assembly constituency of Varuna here, the CM said false allegations are being levelled (against me), as they (opposition) are unable to digest — Kumaraswamy (JDS leader), Yediyurappa, Vijayendra, Ashoka, Pralhad Joshi (all BJP leaders) are unable to bear (that I’m Chief Minister).” Claiming that other than the house that is being constructed on Kuvempu road in Mysuru, he doesn’t own any other property, the CM said, “it is still not yet completed, it has been three years since we started constructing it, work is slowly on since last three years.” “Being a Chief Minister… see how I’m being blamed, to bring down my charisma. But it is you (people) who give me that charisma, give blessings and give power, and only you can take it back,” he added.

Averring that he was doing politics of honesty, Mr Siddaramaiah said he is not only serving the Varuna segment, but the entire state and is working towards the upliftment of the poor without any discrimination of caste, creed or religion.

He said, “opposition is unable to digest that your Siddaramaiah has become the CM for a second time. I belong to a backward class community. BJP doesn’t want a backward class person to become Chief Minister, they don’t want him to — walk the talk, work for the poor and implement social justice. Because the BJP is anti social justice and anti poor…”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai (Maharashtra):

BJP leader Shaina NC hit out at the ruling Congress and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, saying there is “enough evidence” for the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to do its “job.”

The ED which started a probe against the Karnataka CM in connection with the alleged MUDA land allotment scam has filed the chargesheet on Tuesday.

“There is ample evidence, whether it is the resignation of the chairman, or the Karnataka CM offering to return the land as received by compensation, and the fact that money was distributed in the Lok Sabha election, is enough evidence for the ED to do its job and file its chargesheet,” she told ANI on Wednesday.

Calling the MUDA scam as a “huge corruption pile,” she said, “The MUDA scam is a huge corruption pile and the chairman has resigned. The Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has offered to return the land in terms of compensation. This makes it amply clear that there was corruption.”

#WATCH | Mumbai: BJP leader Shaina NC says, “The MUDA scam is a huge corruption pile and the chairman has resigned. The Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has offered to return the land in terms of compensation. This makes it amply clear that there was corruption…The chargesheet… pic.twitter.com/9HjqOxEtmx

— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2024

Earlier, MUDA chairman, Mari Gowda tendered his resignation citing health issues.

“I have given my resignation to the Secretary of the Urban Development Department, the CM instructed me to resign, so I have resigned. My health is not good, so I resigned. MUDA investigation is ongoing. Let the investigation take place. The investigation will reveal the truth. There is no pressure on me. I resigned due to ill health. The CM has not put any pressure on me regarding the issue” Mr Gowda said.

Additionally, BJP MP Sambit Patra also hit out at the Karnataka CM, saying, “Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had offered to return the land he received as compensation. Both these things make it clear that Congress leader Siddaramaiah is embroiled in the MUDA scam head to toe. The ED filed a chargesheet yesterday. The chargesheet says that Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Schedule Tribes Development Corporation’s fund which was meant for the SC/ST was diverted for Lok Sabha polls.”

Also Read: Siddaramaiah Tampered With MUDA Case Evidence, Alleges Fresh Complaint

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday hit out at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for accusing the opposition of dragging his wife in the MUDA case and blamed the latter’s ‘wrongs’ for the situation.

The Union Minister also challenged Siddaramaiah for a debate on the Congress government’s achievements and developmental activities so far.

“Time and again you (Siddaramaiah) say the opposition is jealous and you are accusing the opposition of dragging your wife (into the MUDA case). You have brought your wife, who was respectfully at home, out (in this case). It is not done by us, the opposition. You have brought her out because of wrongs you have committed (in her name),” HD Kumaraswamy said.

Addressing reporters here, he said, “repeatedly you (Siddaramaiah) speak about AHINDA, what have you done for AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits)? Haven’t we seen what has happened in Valmiki Corporation (scam), the loot that has happened.” 

Pointing to the Chief Minister’s emotional appeal to people if they would forgive the opposition for targeting his wife over the MUDA ‘scam’, HD Kumaraswamy said, “Whether people will forgive or accept us, they will decide later. Let him ask the people what they will do to him (Siddaramaiah) for this kind of governance…” 

Siddaramaiah had on Saturday come down heavily on the opposition BJP and the JD(S) for dragging his wife Parvathi B M in the MUDA case, who had never stepped into public life and was confined to her house. He also charged the opposition with targeting him because they could not tolerate a person from a backward community in the Chief Minister’s post.

Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

His wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju — from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi — and others are named as other accused in the case.

Alleging that the Congress government is entangled in scams, HD Kumaraswamy said, “No ministers including the Chief Minister have any concern for the troubles faced by the people… they speak about development, only god should save us.” He challenged Siddaramaiah for a discussion on achievements and development work of the current Congress government led by him, with that of his (Kumaraswamy) 14 months JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2018-19.

Claiming that he had to function as chief minister without proper cooperation from the Congress during the coalition government, HD Kumaraswamy said, “JD(S) had only 38 MLAs then… what all you (Siddaramaiah/Congress) did then? Today you are saying Kumaraswamy didn’t work for 14 months.” 

Citing rain-related issues reported in the last couple of days in parts of the city, HD Kumaraswamy said, “A deadline was set to fill potholes… we are seeing the quality of the work that was done, following this rains.” Not only in Bengaluru, in several parts of the state the post monsoon rains are more than expected, leading to damage of crops and people facing trouble, he said, while accusing the government of ‘failing’ to address the issues.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife BN Parvathi has written to MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority), offering to return the plots of land that are at the heart of the corruption cases against her family. In a statement, she said she was obeying the call of her conscience. “Along with returning these plots, I also demand a comprehensive investigation into all allegations related to MUDA,” she said. Earlier today, the Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering case against the Chief Minister. 

In her letter to MUDA, Ms Parvathi offered to return the 14 plots allotted to her in Vijayanagar Phase 3 and 4 “in lieu of compensation for use of 3.16 acre land in Kesare Village.

“I wish to surrender and return the compensatory plots by cancelling the deeds of 14 plots executed in my favor by the Mysore Urban Development Authority,” read her letter to MUDA. “I am also handing over the possession of the plots back to the Mysore Urban Development Authority. Kindly take necessary steps in this regard as soon as possible,’ the letter read. 

“Some may ask, why make such a decision at this stage? I made this decision on the very day the accusations arose. However, as the accusations regarding the MUDA plot allocation were politically motivated, some well-wishers advised that we should fight against this injustice and not fall prey to their schemes. That’s why I initially stepped back from returning the plots,” she said in her statement.

“My husband, Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of the state, has upheld a strict code of ethics throughout his 40-year political career, remaining entirely free from any kind of blemish… To me, no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband’s honor, dignity, and peace of mind. After all these years in power, I have never sought any personal gain for myself or my family… I am not aware of my husband’s opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son or other family members think,” the statement read. 

“I humbly appeal to the leaders of all political parties and members of the media. Please do not drag the women of political families into controversy for the sake of settling political scores. Do not harm their dignity and honor by involving them in political disputes,” her statement read.

The Central agency’s case came on the heels of a First Information Report filed by the Lokayukta on the orders of a special court.

Besides Mr Siddaramaiah and his wife, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju and others have been named in the FIR registered by the Lokayukta police on September 27. Devaraju is the man from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy had purchased land and gifted it to Ms Parvathi. 

The MUDA case involves allegations of illegalities in the allotment of Mysuru’s 14 premium sites to Mr Siddaramaiah’s wife by the authority. It has been alleged that the value of the compensatory sites allotted to Mr Siddaramaiah’s wife — located in an upmarket area in Mysuru — is far higher than that of the land acquired from her by MUDA.

Social activists have alleged that the allotment has led to a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state. The have also alleged that the land, shown to be gifted to Ms Parvathi by her brother, was illegally acquired by her brother. 

They have alleged that Mallikarjuna Swamy had acquired the land in 2004 using forged documents in connivance with government officials. The papers indicate that the land was purchased in 1998.

Mr Siddaramaiah has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the allegations against him are politically motivated.