Karnataka Governor approves prosecution against CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA 'scam'

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sanctioned the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over alleged irregularities in MUDA site allotments.

Updated on: Aug 17, 2024, 11:07:01 IST

By Yamini C S

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Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday approved the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over allegations related to a site allotment controversy involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), according to official sources, news agency PTI reported.

This decision follows petitions by T J Abraham and others, despite the state government's call for the withdrawal of the Governor's notice. (AFP image)

The governor’s decision follows three petitions filed by individuals T J Abraham, Pradeep, and Snehamayi Krishna.

ALSO READ | BJP-JD(S) protest march demanding CM’s resignation to end with public rally

"The Governor has granted sanction for prosecution against the Chief Minister. It is based on three petitions filed by T J Abraham, one Pradeep and Snehamayi Krishna," an official from the Raj Bhavan told the agency.

Earlier, on July 26, Governor Gehlot had issued a "show-cause notice" to CM Siddaramaiah, asking him to respond within seven days why he should not face prosecution. In response, the Karnataka cabinet had "strongly recommended" that the governor retract the notice issued to the chief minister, accusing him of misusing his constitutional role.

ALSO READ | Demand for debate on MUDA scam: BJP holds night-long sit-in protest at Karnataka Assembly

What is the MUDA scam?

The MUDA scam involves exchanging valuable land in a prime area for less desirable land in a remote part of the city. Opposition parties claim the scam is worth ₹3,000 crore and involves Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, as a beneficiary.

ALSO READ | Basavaraj Bommai seeks CBI investigation into MUDA sites allocation scam in Karnataka

Siddaramaiah has denied the allegations, asserting that MUDA illegally developed a layout on four acres of land owned by his wife in Kesarur, Mysuru, without proper acquisition.

Furthermore, the BJP and JD(S) recently completed their week-long protest march earlier this month, calling for CM Siddaramaiah to resign over the alleged corruption charges in the "scam" case. The march, ending with a large rally, aimed to spotlight claims that MUDA fraudulently allotted sites, including to Siddaramaiah's wife.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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