The Karnataka High Court has deferred the hearing of a case against Siddaramaiah, the state’s chief minister, regarding the MUDA scam to August 29. The case involved Snehamayi Krishna, a social activist who had presented a petition, but the court’s ruling put off the case to the next session.
Siddaramaiah has differed with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for offering his consent to probe alleged anomalies associated with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. His legal advisors told the Court that the probe was unjustified and unlawful; it was instigated by a “friendly Governor” and violated the constitutional provision on the advisory role of the Council of Ministers.
The investigation relating to MUDA’s distribution of other sites was approved by the Governor on August 17. Siddaramaiah, in his petition, states that the sanction was granted out of Antagonism and, hence, without due regard to the provisions of the law. The matters will again be continued in the next court session conducted by Justice M. Nagaprasanna.
This includes land compensation probes, including the then-Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, and his brother-in-law Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj. The BJP stepped up its attack, demanding Siddaramaiah’s resignation on the charges, while the Congress defended him and alleged that the Opposition was out to topple the government. There is loyal party support for Siddaramaiah.
