Bengaluru/Mysuru: In a significant development, the Karnataka Lokayukta has given a clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, and two others in the alleged scam concerning the allotment of sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The Lokayukta police, after a detailed investigation, found no evidence to substantiate the charges against them and have submitted their final report to the High Court.
According to sources, the probe officers examined the allegations under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988, and the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011. After thorough scrutiny, the investigation concluded that the matter was more of a civil dispute rather than a criminal offense. The final report states that there was insufficient proof to support the claims made against Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, her brother Mallikarjuna Swamy, and landowner Devaraj.
The Lokayukta police have clarified that compensatory land allotments made by MUDA between 2016 and 2024 under its 50:50 scheme are still under investigation. Any further findings will be submitted to the court under Section 173 (8) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) once the probe is fully completed.
The clean chit from the Lokayukta comes as a major relief to CM Siddaramaiah, especially after the Karnataka High Court recently dismissed an appeal by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court’s decision further reinforces the stance that the allegations lacked concrete evidence.
However, the complainant, Snehamayi Krishna, remains defiant. Reacting to the Lokayukta’s notice, Krishna expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he had anticipated such an outcome. “The Lokayukta notice claims there is no proof to substantiate my allegations. Then, did I provide them with baseless accusations? The Chief Minister was named as Accused No. 1 in this case. Naturally, government officials under his leadership have come to his rescue. The Lokayukta officials acted against their conscience, defended the corrupt, and deceived even the Supreme Court,” Krishna alleged. He further stated that he would continue his legal battle and decide on the next course of action after reviewing the ‘B’ report submitted by the Lokayukta police.
The case had stirred political debates in Karnataka, with opposition parties closely monitoring the developments. With the Lokayukta’s clean chit, CM Siddaramaiah can now shift focus back to governance, but Krishna’s persistent legal battle indicates that the controversy is far from over. It remains to be seen whether further appeals will be made in higher courts or if additional evidence surfaces in the ongoing MUDA land allotment investigation.