Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday addressed concerns about the alleged use of a whitener to erase a line in a 2014 letter written by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, B M Parvathi, to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) amid opposition accusations of a cover-up and document tampering. The letter in question sought alternative land in exchange for her 3.16 acres, on which MUDA had developed a layout.
Responding to the opposition's claims, Parameshwara stated that the matter would be examined if necessary, particularly by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) or any other investigative body.
"It needs to be looked into. I don't know. They (opposition) have made a statement. The SIT or the investigation agency, will look into it if necessary," Parameshwara told reporters, as per PTI.
The controversy centers around accusations by the BJP and JD(S) that the whitener was used to obscure a line where Parvathi allegedly requested alternative land in the upscale Vijayanagar Layout.
The Karnataka government, led by the Congress, had earlier constituted a single-member inquiry commission under former High Court Judge Justice P N Desai to probe the MUDA alternative site allotment 'scam'. Siddaramaiah, denying any wrongdoing, has repeatedly asserted that his wife did not request alternative plots in any specific locality, according to the report.
Parameshwara also suggested that any evidence or information related to the case should be presented before the Desai commission rather than being aired publicly, to avoid creating confusion.
In a significant development, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot granted sanction for the prosecution of Siddaramaiah on August 16, dealing a blow to the Congress government, which has been in power for nearly 15 months.
On BJP's protest seeking CM's resignation, the Minister said that it was their right to stage a protest. However, he said that there was no question of the Chief Minister resigning since there was no need for it.