Tue Sep 24 10:52:33 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka High Court Upholds Sanction for Siddaramaiah Prosecution in MUDA Scam

**Bengaluru, India:** The Karnataka High Court has upheld the sanction granted by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a case related to alleged irregularities in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment.

The decision comes after Siddaramaiah challenged the Governor’s sanction, arguing it was politically motivated and lacked merit. However, the Court ruled that the Governor was within his rights to act independently in “exceptional circumstances” and that the present case was an exception.

The court also ruled that private complainants can seek sanction from the Governor, and it is not necessary for a police officer to do so.

The case stems from allegations that Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, was granted a land plot measuring over three acres by her brother, Mallikarjuna Swamy. The land was allegedly acquired, then de-notified, and bought by Swamy, before being developed by MUDA.

The complainants, activists TJ Abraham, Snehamai Krishna and Pradeep Kumar SP, allege that the land was illegally developed by MUDA and that Parvathi received inflated compensation, including 14 developed alternate plots of land, under a 50:50 scheme.

Siddaramaiah has maintained his innocence, claiming that the MUDA’s decisions were made independently and that the Governor’s sanction was politically motivated.

Despite Siddaramaiah’s legal team’s request for a stay of the order, the Court refused, allowing the investigation to proceed. This decision paves the way for a formal investigation into the allegations against the Chief Minister.

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