MUDA land scam case: Siddaramaiah moves HC against governor’s nod for prosecution, hearing at 2:30 pm today

In a huge relief for state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the trial court to take no action against Siddaramaiah following Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot sanctioning the Congress leader's prosecution in the alleged MUDA land scam case. The interim relief for the chief minister will be in effect till August 29.

While hearing the case, the Karnataka HC said as the matter is heard by this court and pleadings are to be completed... till the next date of hearing the concerned court (the trial court) should defer its proceedings.

In its order, the HC also noted that documents submitted by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had "referred to several points of order... to prima facie demonstrate that (the) order (granting sanction to prosecute) bears non-application of mind (by the Governor).

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah had moved the High Court against Gehlot's nod to prosecute him and sought this interim relief on grounds the Governor's action was "illegal and without authority of law".

Notably, Siddaramaiah filed a writ petition in the High Court and challenged the decision of the Governor for giving approval to run a case against him in the MUDA land scam case.

Siddaramaiah says he did nothing wrong

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, "I haven't done anything wrong, In the writ petition, an injunction to the prosecution is sought as an interim relief. Eminent lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi will argue the writ petition. My conscience is clear, I have done nothing wrong. I have been a minister for 40 years and there is not a single black spot in my political life during this period. I am engaged in the service of people with their blessings. My political life is like an open book. The people of the state also know that I have not done anything wrong."

Notably, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is under the scanner over the alleged irregularities in the compensatory land allocation to his wife by the MUDA during his term as Chief Minister.

Hearing at Karnataka High Court

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing CM, said- Petitioner Siddaramaiah, in his petition, has said that the order of sanction granted by Governor of Karnataka is tainted and is part of a concerted effort to destabilise the duly elected government in Karnataka for political reasons.

What is the MUDA land scam?

The whole controversy revolves around a 3.16-acre peace of land in Kesaru village owned by Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. This land was first acquired by MUDA for development of a layout and Parvathi was allocated 14 premium sites in Vijayanagar in 2022 as compensation under a 50:50 scheme. However, various activists alleged that the plot allotted to Parvathi had a higher property value as compared to the location of her land that was acquired by MUDA.

Earlier, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy challenged the state government to approach the Supreme Court against him instead of seeking Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s permission to prosecute him.

“What is the need to prosecute me? For how long have you been doing this drama?” Kumaraswamy asked, reacting to Siddaramaiah’s accusation.

The chief minister in a press conference on Saturday said that on November 23, 2023, the Lokayukta sent a report to the governor seeking permission to prosecute Kumaraswamy, who presently holds the steel and heavy industries portfolio at the Centre, but no permission was granted in a 2007 mining case.

The union minister said the Supreme Court has said that in the Janthakal mining case that “no other court shall pass any other order with regard to these matters till the matters are finally decided by the honourable Supreme Court”.

“Who is stopping you from approaching the Supreme Court? Why this drama of sending the file to the governor seeking permission for my prosecution — to scare me and to silence me? Is this what you have done?” Kumaraswamy asked.

He said the present government had sent the report to the governor to prosecute him when it was clear that one has to approach the Supreme Court.