MUDA Land Scam Case: Lokayukta Finds No Evidence Against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, His Wife

Bengaluru: In a major relief for Siddaramaiah, Karnataka’s Lokayukta has found no evidence against the chief minister in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case.

Lokayukta said on Wednesday there is a “lack of evidence to conduct an investigation” against Siddaramaiah, or his wife, in the alleged land scam case, adding that the charges against the CM and other accused seemed “civil in nature and not suitable for criminal charges.”

The Lokayukta sent a notice to the complainant, Snehamayi Krishna, stating that there is no material to prove charges against the CM and the other accused — his wife BM Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju, who owned the plots in question.

Krishna was one of three anti-corruption activists who wrote last year to Governor Thawarchand Gehlot seeking Siddaramaiah’s prosecution.

“Since allegations against Accused No 1 (Siddaramaiah) to Accused No 4 have not been proven due to lack of evidence, the final report is being submitted to the High Court,” the Lokayukta told Krishna.

The complainant has been given a week to respond, after which the Lokayukta will submit a final report.

Compensatory land allotments by MUDA between 2016 and 2024, including those to Siddaramaiah’s wife when also he was CM, will, however, remain “under scrutiny”, and a supplementary report on the same will be given to the court.