On Saturday, Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with an alleged land allocation scam involving the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The decision comes after RTI activist TJ Abraham filed a complaint highlighting the so-called ‘MUDA scam.’

Background and Allegations

The MUDA scam centers on allegations of irregularities in land allotments by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. It is claimed that Parvathi Siddaramaiah, the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, benefited from these questionable allotments. In 2021, MUDA acquired her 3-acre plot in Kesare village, Mysuru, and in return, she was allocated other plots in the upscale Vijayanagar area of south Mysuru. The market value of the Vijayanagar plots is reportedly much higher than the original land in Kesare.

Abraham, who also serves as the President of the Karnataka Anti-Graft and Environmental Forum, alleged that Siddaramaiah failed to disclose his wife’s ownership of the land in his 2023 Assembly election affidavit. He further claimed that this omission was deliberate, with possible ulterior motives. The complaint seeks legal action against Siddaramaiah under Section 125A and Section 8 of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1950, citing violations of various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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Political Fallout and Congress Response

The Congress party, viewing the allegations as a political maneuver by the BJP and the central government to target the Karnataka government, has expressed full support for the Chief Minister. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has assured Siddaramaiah of the party high command’s backing and has called for the state cabinet to stand united on this issue. Additionally, the party’s Karnataka unit has been directed to launch statewide protests against the prosecution.

Next Steps

Governor Gehlot had previously issued a show cause notice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 26, seeking an explanation regarding the alleged scam. He had also sought information from the Chief Secretary before making his decision to permit prosecution. The case is expected to escalate politically, with both legal and electoral implications as the Congress gears up for protests and prepares to defend its leader.

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