High court dismisses petition seeking transfer of MUDA investigation against CM to CBI from Lokayukta

BENGALURU: The High Court Justice M. Nagaprasanna on Friday dismissed a petition filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna seeking transfer of investigation from Lokayukta, Mysuru wing to the sleuths of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over alleged irregularities in allotments of 14 plots to B.M. Parvathi, wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

While dismissing the petition of Snehamayi Krishna, the High Court stated the material on record does not point at Lokayukta investigation was biased, lop-sided or deficient to warrant for transfer of the case to CBI for further investigation.

There was no immediate reaction from the Chief Minister over the dismissal of the petition by the High Court. However, his advocate Shatabish Shivanna said a “legal victory for Siddaramaiah.”

Last year, Snehamayi Krishna moved the High Court seeking transfer of the case for investigation from Lokayukta, Mysuru wing to CBI, doubting that the Lokayukta functions under the State Government and a fair investigation cannot be expected from the investigation agency. Earlier, the High Court ordered for a probe by Lokayukta, Mysuru wing to conduct investigation into the alleged plot distribution irregularities to the Chief Minister’s wife.

Based on the High Court order, Lokayukta sleuths registered a First Information Report against Siddaramaiah and named him as accused number 1 in the case. Thereafter, officials of Directorate of Enforcement (ED) registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) equivalent to Police FIR, suspecting money laundering in plot distribution in MUDA including plots allotted to the Chief Minister’s wife.

The officials of Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) allotted 14 plots to B.M. Parvathi, wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in lieu of her losing 3.16 acres in Kesare village of Mysuru taluk to MUDA. MUDA had developed on the lands belonging to Parvathi in Kesare without her consent and as a compensation for her losing 3.16 acres, MUDA allotted 14 plots to B.M. Parvathi in a posh locality in Mysuru city in 2021, leading to complaints against the Chief Minister and his family members.

It was alleged that Siddaramaiah, a veteran politician belonging to Mysuru district, had exerted his influence over MUDA officials to get his wife plots in a posh locality estimated to cost about Rs 56 crore which was more the value for the land lost by her in Kesare.

Over the dismissal of his petition, Snehamayi Krishna told Deccan Chronicle he will appeal in the Supreme Court over dismissal of his petition and stated he still doubted the fair investigation conducted by sleuths of Lokayukta, Mysuru wing.

“I will go through the order and find out on the grounds that led to his dismissal of his petition,” he said. Earlier, he told reporters in Mysuru that the dismissal of a petition seeking transfer of investigation from Lokayukta to CBI was a “setback.”

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra said the dismissal of a petition seeking transfer of case to CBI does not mean that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family members have been given a “clean chit” by the High Court nor it means that Siddaramaiah is “innocent” in the case.

He termed the dismissal of the petition is not a “setback” since Lokayukta and Directorate of Enforcement investigations are underway. “I will react after investigating agencies complete their investigation and come up with their reports,” he added.