Sun Sep 29 08:36:02 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Faces Lokayukta Investigation Over Land Scam
**Mysuru, September 28, 2024:** Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is facing an investigation by the Lokayukta, the state’s anti-corruption watchdog, over allegations of a land scam involving his family. An FIR was registered against him and his family members on Friday, following a high court order and approval from the People’s Representative Courts.
Siddaramaiah is named as the first accused (A1), his wife Parvati as A2, and his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna as A3. The FIR alleges that they were involved in a land scam related to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scheme.
The Lokayukta SP, Udesh, registered the FIR under sections of the IPC, including those related to criminal conspiracy, bribery, and forgery, and also under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The investigation was initiated after complaints were filed against the CM alleging irregularities in the allotment of MUDA plots.
The development has sparked political controversy, with the opposition BJP accusing the Congress government of trying to shield the CM from a CBI investigation. The BJP’s national spokesperson, Shehzaad Poonawala, called the Congress government a “professional thief” and accused them of trying to protect Siddaramaiah in the alleged Rs. 5,000 crore MUDA scam.
Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge defended the CM, stating that Siddaramaiah was innocent and that the BJP was trying to damage the Congress party’s reputation. He challenged the BJP’s claim by asking if Narendra Modi resigned as Gujarat CM when the Godhra riots occurred.
The Lokayukta investigation is expected to shed light on the allegations against the CM and his family, and the political fallout of the investigation is likely to intensify in the coming days.
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