Summary
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday registered an FIR against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.
Expansion
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s troubles have increased in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. Actually, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken cognizance of the Lokayukta’s FIR and registered a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah. Last week, a special court in Bangalore ordered the Lokayukta police to investigate against Siddaramaiah in this case, after which the FIR was registered.
Siddaramaiah had said last week that he was being targeted by the opposition in the Muda case because they were afraid of him. He had also said that it was a political case against him. He had also made it clear that he would not resign even after the inquiry was ordered because he had not done anything wrong and he would fight the case legally.
What is the alleged Muda land scam?
Muda had come up with a scheme for people who lost their land during urban development. In this scheme named 50:50, people who lost land were entitled to 50% of the developed land. This scheme was first implemented in 2009. Which was stopped by the then BJP government in 2020.
Even after the government stopped the scheme, Muda continued to acquire and allot land under the 50:50 scheme. The whole controversy is related to this. It is alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati was benefited under this.
What is the connection of the Chief Minister’s wife with the 50:50 scheme?
It is alleged that 3 acres and 16 guntas of land of the Chief Minister’s wife was acquired by Muda. In return, 14 sites were allotted in an expensive area. This land on the outskirts of Mysore was gifted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati by his brother Mallikarjuna Swamy in 2010. It is alleged that MUDA developed the Devnur III phase plan without acquiring this land.
Chief Minister’s Parvati applied for compensation on the basis of which, MUDA allotted 14 sites in Vijayanagar III and IV Phase. This allotment was of a total of 38,284 square feet under the state government’s 50:50 ratio scheme. The 14 sites allotted in the name of the Chief Minister’s wife are facing scam allegations. The opposition says that irregularities have been committed in the allotment of these sites to Parvati by MUDA.
What irregularities are the opposition alleging?
It is alleged that the market value of the sites allotted in Vijayanagar is much higher than the original land in Kesare. The opposition has now also raised questions on the fairness and validity of the compensation. However, it is also interesting that in 2021, during the BJP rule, a new site was allotted to CM’s wife Parvati in Vijayanagar.
