Karnataka Lokayukta’s clean chit to Siddaramaiah, his wife in Muda case

KARNATAKA, FEB 19 : The Karnataka Lokayukta gave a clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife, and two others in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) site allocation case, with the anti-corruption watchdog set to submit a B-report citing lack of evidenceThe investigation concluded that the allegations were civil in nature and did not warrant criminal proceedings.

A notice was sent to complainant Snehamayi Krishna, a journalist and social activist, informing him of the findings. He has been given a week to challenge the report before the designated magistrate. The Lokayukta’s notice stated that the probe did not find sufficient proof to substantiate the charges and suggested that any discrepancies may have arisen from a misunderstanding of legal provisions.

The complaint had accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others of irregularities in Muda’s site allotments and was filed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, and the Karnataka Land Grabbing Act. However, the Lokayukta’s investigation found no criminal wrongdoing, leading to the submission of a final report exonerating the accused.

Reacting to the development, complainant Snehamayi Krishna lashed out at the Lokayukta officials, alleging that they had acted under political influence. “Whatever I suspected about the Lokayukta officers has come true. They have sold their conscience, been influenced by politicians, and worked against their duty. Despite providing all kinds of evidence, they are falsely claiming a lack of proof.”

He further said, “They assert that there is insufficient evidence against all four accused – Siddaramaiah, his wife, Mallikarjun, and Devaraj – and intend to file a ‘B report’ on the case. Moreover, they have even issued a notice to me. It is shameful that an educated IPS officer has conducted such an investigation. I have only studied up to the 10th grade, but I will ensure that Siddaramaiah is brought to justice and punished under the law.”

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka also hit out at the Lokayukta’s findings, calling it a “clean chit guarantee machine” under the Siddaramaiah-led government. In a post on X, he said, “The Lokayukta investigation in the MUDA land scam was an investigation of Siddaramaiah, by Siddaramaiah, and for Siddaramaiah. Congress ministers and MLAs had given a clean chit to the CM and his wife even before the investigation had begun. So it is no surprise that the Lokayukta police has now submitted a B report giving a clean chit to the CM and his wife. Neither the people of Karnataka expected that the Lokayukta investigation would bring justice in this case.”

Taking aim at Siddaramaiah, Ashoka further added, “CM @siddaramaiah avare, your desperate efforts to bury the truth and jeopardise justice will not succeed. Justice may have been delayed but won’t be denied. Truth and truth alone will win.”

Despite the clean chit, the Lokayukta said that compensatory land allotments made by Muda between 2016 and 2024 will still be scrutinised. A supplementary probe is underway, and a further report will be submitted to the court under Section 173(8) of the CrPC once it is completed.

-PTI