Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday contested Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot's sanction to prosecute him in a case involving alleged irregularities in land allocation by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The case is set to be heard in the Karnataka High Court at 2:30 pm, with Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing the Chief Minister.
The Governor's approval for the state Lokayukta to proceed with prosecution has ignited a significant political storm in Karnataka. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded Siddaramaiah's resignation, while the Congress has dismissed the charges as "politically motivated."
The controversy centers on a 3.16-acre parcel of land in Kesaru village, owned by Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. The land was acquired by MUDA for the development of a layout, and in 2022, Parvathi was allocated 14 premium sites in Vijayanagar as compensation under a 50:50 scheme. Activists allege that the plot allocated to Parvathi was of a higher property value compared to the original land that MUDA acquired.
Social activists TJ Abraham, Mysore's Snehamai Krishna, and Bangalore's Pradeep Kumar SP had sought the sanction to prosecute Siddaramaiah. Abraham filed his request in July, prompting the Governor to issue a show-cause notice to the Chief Minister shortly thereafter.
The case also implicates Siddaramaiah's brother-in-law, Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, who is alleged to be involved in the land scam, along with several top MUDA officials. The accusations have intensified the political rivalry between the BJP and Congress in Karnataka.
In response to the Governor's decision, the BJP has mounted pressure on Siddaramaiah to step down from his position as Chief Minister. However, the Congress has staunchly defended Siddaramaiah, denying any wrongdoing and labeling the charges as an opposition ploy.
Siddaramaiah has strongly refuted the allegations, asserting that they are part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the opposition to destabilize his government. "The entire cabinet is with me. The entire high command is with me. All the MLAs and MLCs are standing by my side," he stated.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes are on the High Court's proceedings, which are expected to play a crucial role in determining the next steps in this high-profile case.
