The Karnataka government has initiated a probe into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam, reportedly involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, just before the monsoon session starting on July 15. The investigation will be conducted by a single-member commission led by retired High Court Justice P. N. Desai. The commission has been tasked with completing its probe and submitting findings within six months.
The government's decision comes amid allegations and media reports regarding irregularities in the allotment of MUDA sites. According to the order, the inquiry will proceed under Sub-rule 1 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, and the Code of Civil Procedure.
Opposition parties have called for Siddaramaiah’s resignation and have demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The order emphasizes that officials from the Urban Development Department and MUDA must cooperate fully with the investigation, providing all necessary documents and materials.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has appealed to the legal fraternity to seek consent from Governor T.C. Gehlot for the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding alleged irregularities in MUDA and the tribal welfare board. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dismissed these allegations, claiming he is being targeted due to his background. "Since I am from a backward class, I am being targeted, he added.
The MUDA controversy centers around the purchase, de-notification, gifting, encroachment, and allocation of alternative sites related to 3.16 acres of land owned by Siddaramaiah’s wife, B.M. Parvathi. The BJP has alleged that fraudulent allotments resulted in a loss of about Rs 4,000 crore to the government.
As the monsoon session approaches, this investigation could significantly impact the political landscape in Karnataka, with both the ruling party and the opposition keenly watching the developments.