Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 30 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in an alleged money laundering case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, linked to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), the sources said.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that Karnataka Chief Minister will be proved innocent.
“It is no secret that the ED has become a tool for the non-biological Prime Minister to harass political opponents and carry out politics of vengeance and revenge. In May 2023, the people of Karnataka rejected him badly. He is unable to forget that humiliation. The Congress believes that he and his ED will soon be fully exposed. We have nothing to fear in any way. The Karnataka Chief Minister will be proved innocent,” Jairam Ramesh posted on X.
Earlier on September 27, the Lokayukta Police filed an FIR against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment ‘scam’.
The FIR has been filed by the Mysuru Lokayukta under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 351, 420, 340, 09, and 120B among others, they said.
The FIR mentions CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law and others as accused in the case, they added.
It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah‘s wife in the prime location of Mysuru city.
The BJP has demanded that CM Siddaramiah resign and the probe be taken over by the ED and CBI.
“In the case of Karnataka Congress CM Siddaramaiah‘s MUDA scam, the way his family made huge wealth by misusing land and government authority in the Mysore Urban Development Authority, the court has given this decision in which CM Siddaramaiah has been made accused number one. Is the Chief Minister the first and the prime accused in this? The important thing is no central agency has investigated this and no one has filed an application on their own,” RS MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said.
CM Siddaramiah however has quashed all demands for his resignation.
“Let them first take the resignation of HD Kumaraswamy and others; shouldn’t they make them Kumaraswamy resign? Even Modi also has to resign in the electoral bond issue. They have misused the electoral bond and looted; in that issue, HD Kumarswamy, Nirmala Sitharaman and Modi resign first,” Siddaramaiah said.
After the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) booked the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a money laundering case linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment case, his wife has written to the MUDA Commissioner, offering to surrender 14 plots that were allotted to her by the authority.
“Mysore Urban Development Authority has sanctioned 14 plots of various sizes in Vijayanagar Phase 3 and 4 as compensation for the authority using my land measuring 3 acres, 16 guntas, in Survey No. 464 of Kesare Village, Kasaba Hobli, Mysore Taluk, without land acquisition,” Siddaramaiah‘s wife, Parvathi, wrote in her letter to MUDA Commissioner on Monday.
“I wish to surrender and return the compensation plots by cancelling the deeds of 14 plots executed in my favour by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. I am also handing over the possession of the plots back to the Mysore Urban Development Authority. Kindly take necessary steps in this regard as soon as possible,” the letter read.
“My husband, the Chief Minister of the state, Siddaramaiah, in his 40-year-long politics, has followed ethics like a vow that no small stain can stick to it. She lived by the decision not to embarrass him by appearing in public life, including politics. I never wanted house, property, gold, wealth. She was careful not to tarnish even a single drop of her political life from me. She was happy and proud to see the love and admiration that the people of the state showered on my husband from afar. However, I am hurt by the allegations made regarding the Muda settlement in Mysore,” she said in a statement.
“My own brother Arishina – Kumkum’s share of the land that Babu got is so raddhanta (blunder). I never imagined that my husband would face unfair charges because of this. For me, this estate, house, property, wealth, nothing is greater than my husband’s honor, dignity, dignity and his comfort. I did not want anything for myself or my family from those who were in power for so many years,” she added.
She further said, “In this background, I have decided to return 14 plots of Muda, which are the cause of controversy. I don’t know what my husband thinks about this. Be it with my son, be it with other members of my family. I have not discussed this. This is a decision I have consciously made in response to the call of my soul witness.”
“Why did you come to such a decision at this stage? One might ask. I made this decision on the day I heard the allegation. However, the allegation of allotment of Muda land is done with political malice and this injustice must be fought against. I gave up on the decision to return the site because some well-wishers said that we should not fall prey to their plan,” she added.
“My decision is unwavering and I demand the return of these plots as well as a thorough investigation into all the allegations against Muda,” she said.
“Lastly, my humble request to all political party leaders and media fraternity. Please stay away from the political field and don’t harm the dignity and honor of the daughters of political families who are in their own right by dragging them into the arena of controversy for the sake of political hatred,” she added.
It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah‘s wife in the prime location of Mysuru city.
Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in an alleged money laundering case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, linked to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), the sources said.
Earlier on September 27, the Lokayukta Police filed an FIR against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam.
The FIR has been filed by the Mysuru Lokayukta under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 351, 420, 340, 09, and 120B, among others, they said.
The FIR mentions CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law, and others as accused in the case, they added. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah‘s wife in the prime location of Mysuru city.
As the allegations surfaced, the BJP has come down guns blazing at the Congress party, accusing it of supporting “corrupt” leaders and demanding CM Siddaramaiah‘s resignation. CM Siddaramiah, however, has quashed all demands for his resignation.
“Let them first take the resignation of HD Kumaraswamy and others; shouldn’t they make them Kumaraswamy resign? Even Modi also has to resign in the electoral bond issue. They have misused the electoral bond and looted; in that issue, HD Kumarswamy, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Modi resign first,” he said. (ANI)(ANI)
Pure vendetta to destabilise Karnataka govt: Congress’ KC Venugopal on ED proceedings against CM Siddaramaiah
KC Venugopal, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, has described the ED proceedings against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in connection with the alleged MUDA scam, as a “pure vendetta” aimed at destabilising a democratically elected government.
“The ED proceedings against Karnataka CM Sh. Siddaramaiah are a clear vendetta to undermine a democratically elected, pro-people government. The sequence begins with a private complaint, swiftly acted upon by the Governor (beyond his constitutional authority), followed by the Lokayukta filing an FIR, which is immediately succeeded by an ED case,” Venugopal stated in a post on X on Monday.
He alleged that the case’s timeline clearly reveals the ED’s agenda.
“Every Indian recognises that ED/CBI actions signify intimidation and political harassment. The entire case against Siddaramaiah ji is fabricated, intended to oust him. In a federal democracy, such overtly unconstitutional acts will not be tolerated. Mr Modi should realise that we will not accept this passively. We will fight you tooth and nail, and the people will further reject you for this assault on democracy,” he added. (ANI)
