Karnataka HC dismisses plea seeking transfer of alleged corruption case against Siddaramaiah to CBI
The High Court said that the Lokayukta Police’s inquiry did not appear partisan or shoddy.
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The Karnataka High Court on Friday refused to transfer the investigation into the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority scam involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the Central Bureau of Investigation, stating that the Lokayukta Police’s inquiry did not appear partisan or shoddy, reported Live Law.
A Mysuru-based social activist named Snehamayi Krishna had approached the High Court, contending that the case should be transferred to the CBI as Siddaramaiah holds “immense power and influence” over state departments, especially investigating agencies, The Hindu reported.
The petitioner argued the Lokayukta Police’s investigation in the case did not inspire public confidence.
The alleged scam pertains to the allotment of 14 high-value housing sites in Mysuru’s Vijaynagar area to Siddaramaiah’s wife 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.
On September 27, the Lokayukta police registered a first information report against Siddaramaiah, Parvathi, her brother Mallikarjuna Swamy and a person named Devaraju.
Swamy had reportedly purchased the land in question from...
