Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to not cower and resign yet

Siddaramaiah rejects Oppn resignation demand after HC allows probe against him in MUDA case

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has firmly rejected the opposition’s demand for his resignation after the High Court dismissed his petition challenging the Governor’s approval for an investigation against him in a site allotment case involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Speaking to reporters, the CM accused the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of engaging in “vendetta politics” against opposition-ruled states, including Karnataka, and called the opposition’s demands ‘a political conspiracy’. Despite the court’s decision, Siddaramaiah maintained that he had done no wrong and vowed to continue the legal battle after consulting legal experts and party leaders. He reiterated his commitment to fighting the accusations politically, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) of attempting to destabilise his government through false allegations and manipulation of constitutional offices.

Setback for Siddaramaiah as HC upholds Governor’s approval
In a significant setback for the CM, the Karnataka High Court upheld Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for a probe into allegations of irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife by MUDA. The court dismissed Siddaramaiah’s plea challenging the legality of the Governor’s decision, ruling that the gubernatorial order did not lack application of mind. The case stems from allegations that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife, BM Parvathi, in an upscale area of Mysuru, with claims that the land had a higher property value than the location originally acquired by MUDA. The Governor’s nod for investigation, given on August 16, was based on petitions from complainants who alleged misuse of power in the land allocation process.

CM stands firm amid political pressure

Despite the legal blow, Siddaramaiah made it clear he has no intention of stepping down, comparing his situation to that of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who also faced legal issues but did not resign. He dismissed the opposition’s demands for his resignation, asserting that the inquiry is still in its preliminary stages and there is no reason to step aside at this point. The CM accused the opposition parties, particularly BJP and JD(S), of attempting to buy Congress MLAs and destabilise his government using “money power” and operations like ‘Kamala.’ He claimed that these parties have consistently tried to undermine his administration because they oppose the government’s pro-poor initiatives and social justice schemes.

Legal and political battle to continue

Siddaramaiah emphasised that his legal and political fight will continue with the full support of his party and senior leaders. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar echoed these sentiments, stating that there was no question of resignation, as the allegations are part of a larger conspiracy against the CM.

Origins of the MUDA case
The MUDA site allotment controversy dates back over three decades, involving land originally acquired in 1992. Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, was allotted compensatory plots under a 50:50 ratio scheme in exchange for land in Mysuru. Allegations have surfaced that Parvathi had no legal title over the land in question, sparking the ongoing legal and political battle.

High Court verdict paves way for further investigations

The High Court, while dismissing Siddaramaiah’s petition, clarified that the Governor acted within his constitutional powers in granting approval for the investigation. The court stated that the facts of the case warrant an investigation, particularly since the beneficiary of the alleged irregularities is the CM’s family. The ruling has opened the door for further legal proceedings against Siddaramaiah.

If the beneficiary were to be a stranger, this Court would have shown complainants their door of exit, while it is not–Justice M Nagaprasanna

HC skeptical of CM’s plea
The Karnataka High Court has expressed skepticism regarding CM Siddaramaiah’s alleged lack of involvement in a land transaction involving MUDA, which purportedly resulted in his family gaining approximately Rs 56 crores. The court made this observation while upholding the Governor’s sanction for an investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, presiding over the single judge bench, found it challenging to accept that the Chief Minister’s family, who benefited substantially from the transaction, was not involved. The court emphasised the need to investigate how and why the rule was altered in favour of the CM’s family.