While Justice Nagaprasanna rejected a plea to stay the verdict to enable Siddaramaiah to appeal against it, the Congress has said it will approach the Division Bench of High Court against the ruling
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addresses a press conference at his home office ‘Krishna’ after Karnataka High Court pronounced its verdict dismissing his petition challenging the approval given by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for an investigation against him in the alleged illegalities committed in the allotment of 14 MUDA sites to his wife, in Bengaluru on September 24, 2024. | Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
On September 24, 2024, the Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, ruling that the Governor’s decision to permit an investigation against him was lawful. Justice M. Nagaprasanna stated that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot acted within his authority by granting approval for the investigation. The case involves alleged illegalities in the allotment of 14 Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife in a prime area of Mysuru.
What is MUDA scam ?
The Karnataka High Court, on September 24, 2024, vacated its interim order from August 19, which had directed a special court in Bengaluru to defer its decision on complaints filed against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The court also declined Siddaramaiah’s request to stay the verdict, allowing him time to appeal.
Previously, the High Court had granted temporary relief by halting any action based on the Governor’s approval for an investigation, which had been sought by complainants Abraham T.J. from Bengaluru and Snehamayi Krishna from Mysuru. These complainants had approached the special court, seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife.
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot sanctioned the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a corruption case involving the allotment of land to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The Governor emphasized that a “neutral, objective, and non-partisan investigation” should be carried out. The land allotment, which is under scrutiny, took place in 2021, during the BJP’s rule in the state.
Complainants hail Karnataka HC order dismissing Siddaramaiah’s petition
The complainants, who secured approval from Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for a probe into the site allotment case involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, praised the High Court’s decision on Tuesday. The court dismissed Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the Governor’s sanction for the investigation. Siddaramaiah had contested the Governor’s approval, which allowed an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 prime Mysuru Urban Development Authority Sites to his wife.
