Karnataka High Court asks Lokayukta for details of probe against Siddaramaiah in Muda scam

The Karnataka High Court Tuesday directed the State Lokayukta to submit the details of its probe conducted so far in the case related to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Justice M Nagaprasanna also issued notice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his co-accused and to the Union and the State governments asking them to respond to a petition seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The High Court was hearing a petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna, an activist and one of the three complainants in the Muda scam, seeking a probe by CBI into the alleged scam.

Krishna submitted that the Lokayukta, since it comes under the State government, might not be able to ensure a fair probe in the case involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

On Tuesday, Senior Advocate KG Raghavan, who appeared for Krishna, told the Court that the petitioner feared that the Lokayukta might not conduct a probe in a manner that will instill public confidence.

The Court then said it will hear the matter further on November 26.

In September this year, Justice Nagaprasanna had dismissed a plea filed by Siddaramaiah challenging the sanction granted by the Governor to file corruption cases against the Chief Minister over land that MUDA granted to his wife Parvathi.

Subsequently, the Karnataka Lokayukta had filed an FIR against Siddaramaiah and three others on charges of corruption, cheating and forgery in connection with the MUDA sites allotment.