From allegations of irregularities to CM Siddaramaiah’s wife returning tainted 14 plots: Twist and turns of the alleged MUDA Scam explained

In a dramatic turn of events in the alleged MUDA scam, Parvathi, the wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah returned all the tainted 14 plots that were allotted to her by the development authority. Taking to X, CM Siddaramaiah, himself confirmed the development stating that his wife has taken a decision to return the 14 plots given by MUDA. He, however, claimed ‘no wrongdoing’ in the land allotment saying that he too was surprised by his wife’s decision. The Congress leader blamed ‘hate politics’ as the reason why his wife returned the plots.  

Interestingly, the development came just hours after the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case against her husband, Siddaramaiah. Pertinent to note that the allegations in the MUDA scam case also revolved around the allotment of these 14 plots to the Chief Minister’s family with the opposition saying that the plots were ‘illegally” allotted to the Chief Minister’s family.

Lashing out at the grand old party, BJP dubbed Congress a “Corruption ki Dukkan” ( A scam shop). According to the BJP, Siddaramaiah, the accused number 1 in the MUDA scam case, feared an investigation into the allotment of land parcels and resultantly, he asked his wife to return plots. 

Taking to X, BJP National Spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari wrote, “Rahul Gandhi’s Congress is ‘Corruption Ki Dukaan’. Accused no 1 Corrupt Siddaramaiah fearing investigation asked his wife to write to MUDA to return plots. Corrupt Congress family admits guilt moments after ED files a FIR! #MudaScam.”

Nonetheless, the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) which is also embroiled in the alleged land allotment scam accepted Parvathi’s offer to return the tainted plots.

CM Siddaramaiah claims scam allegations against him are ‘false’

Claiming that he did nothing wrong and the case against him in the MUDA scam is ‘false’, CM Siddaramaiah alleged that his family was being targeted. He also turned down BJP’s demand that he should quit in the wake of these developments.

On Tuesday, addressing reporters, Siddaramaiah fumed, “Why should I resign when I have done nothing wrong?” He also claimed that the opposition does not have proof against him.

He said, “Let the investigations in the case continue. On what grounds has the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case of money laundering.” 

He claimed, “A false case was filed against me and my family” adding that he was “hurt by the allegations”, even as his wife has returned the land to the development authority.

A brief explainer of the MUDA scam, the timeline, and major developments in the case

The scam allegations against Siddaramaiah and his family came to the fore earlier this year in July. Notably, on 10th July, RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna filed a complaint against CM Siddaramaiah and nine others for allegedly forging documents to claim compensation from the development authority (MUDA). The allegations involve the allotment of 14 pricey land sites in Mysuru to the family members of CM Siddaramaiah in exchange for 3 acres 16 guntas of land which were on the outskirts of the city.

The complaint has accused CM Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, who claimed to be a landowner, and his family of ‘wrongdoings’. It has alleged irregularities and a scam in the land acquisition and allotment of an alternate site to CM’s family.

According to the BJP, CM Siddaramaiah helped himself with the allotment of 14 plots in the upscale Vijayanagar locality in Mysuru. They have charged CM’s family with accepting Rs 35 crore worth of plots in place of earlier decided compensation of Rs 3 lakh.

Subsequently, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot granted prosecution sanction against the Chief Minister which was later upheld in the Karnataka High Court. The High Court had dismissed Siddaramaiah’s plea noting that in special cases like in the present case, the Governor can make decisions without the aid of the Council of Ministers, thus opening floodgates of serious probe against the Congress leader. 

Later, based on a plea filed by the RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna and others before a special MP/MLA court, a probe by the state Lokayukta Police was ordered against the Chief Minister. However, yesterday, legal troubles further mounted for Siddaramaiah when the Enforcement Directorate booked him in a money laundering case concerning the MUDA scam allegations against him and members of his family. Conspicuously,  hours after the ED registered a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah, his wife, ‘offered’ to return the plots to the MUDA. 

Returning ‘proceeds of crime’ doesn’t absolve one’s crimes: Netizens say development is ‘open admission of guilt’

The development led to a field day for netizens who accused the Congress leaders saying that it was an open admission of their guilt and that returning the “proceeds of crime”, after getting caught, does not correct their criminal liability. 

Slamming the Congress leader, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya wrote, “Return of the proceeds of crime does not absolve the person from the criminal liability. Fearing his imminent arrest, CM @Siddaramaiah is having his wife write letters relinquishing the #MUDA sites allotted to her. This is not only an admission of guilt but is a desperate attempt at evading criminal liability. Justice will prevail!”

In the meantime, the Karnataka Police had also booked Krishna, one of the complainants against CM Siddaramaiah, in an assault and harassment case, based on a woman’s complaint that was filed in August, however, the information was only made public recently. 

Nonetheless, the MUDA scam and a host of other land scam allegations are turning out to be a hot potato for the Congress government in Karnataka, with fissures within the party getting all the more evident than ever before. Sensing that Siddaramaiah could even face a jail term, apart from getting politically ‘untaintable’, a host of Karnataka Congress leaders have staked their claims on the Chief Ministerial post, in case push comes to shove.