Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has come under scrutiny as the Lokayukta registered a case against him on Friday in connection with an alleged land allocation scam linked to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The move by the state’s Anti-Corruption body follows a special court in Bengaluru ordering a Lokayukta police investigation into the allegations against Siddaramaiah, reported India Today.
The case centers around claims that premium properties were allocated by MUDA in violation of norms, allegedly involving Siddaramaiah’s wife. The allocation of the land is believed to have bypassed legal procedures, prompting the Lokayukta to launch the investigation.
On Wednesday, a special court directed the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to investigate the Chief Minister in connection with the MUDA site allotment 'scam', paving the way for an FIR to be filed against him. The Special Court issued the order on the complaint filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna.
On Friday, despite the mounting pressure, Siddaramaiah reiterated his stance that he would not step down as Chief Minister, maintaining that he has done nothing wrong. "I have done no wrong. This is for the first time a political case is being registered against me. This is a political case, please underline," he told reporters, as per PTI, in Mysuru on Friday. He asserted that he would fight the case legally and was confident in his ability to clear his name.
"There is no question of resigning, because I have done no wrong. This (charges against him) is a BJP (conspiracy)," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru.
During a press briefing following a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, dismissed any link between the decision regarding the CBI and the allegations of irregularities in MUDA.
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