ED issues notice to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Karnataka minister in land scam case

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday issued notices to BM Parvathi, the wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the state Urban Development Minister BS Suresh to appear for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the allotment of compensatory housing sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, The Indian Express reported.

Parvathi was asked to appear before the central law enforcement agency on Tuesday, The Hindu reported. It was unclear when Suresh had been summoned.

Siddaramaiah confirmed to reporters that the two had received notices from the Enforcement Directorate, the Deccan Herald reported.

Later in the day, Parvathi and Suresh moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the notices.

The alleged scam pertains to the allotment of 14 high-value housing sites in Mysuru’s Vijaynagar area to Parvathi in 2021 by the Mysore Urban Development Authority under a state government scheme.

This was allegedly done in exchange for 3.1 acres of land that Parvathi owned in another part of the city. The land was allegedly illegally acquired from Dalit families.

In September, a special court in Bengaluru ordered a Lokayukta police investigation against Siddaramaiah after the High Court upheld the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to prosecute him. The Lokayukta is the state’s anti-corruption ombudsman.

Siddaramaiah had moved the High Court in August challenging Gehlot’s decision, contending that it was part of a concerted effort...

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