BJP demands CBI probe after Karnataka High court dismisses Siddaramaiah's petition in MUDA scam
- In Reports
- 03:31 PM, Sep 24, 2024
- Myind Staff
Following the Karnataka High Court's rejection of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s petition against Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's sanction to investigate the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has called for a CBI investigation. He also urged Siddaramaiah to resign to ensure an impartial inquiry.
Joshi highlighted the scale of the alleged illegalities, stating, "More than 500-1000 sites were illegally allocated to others, with many of these allocations happening in the last few months. For a fair investigation, the Chief Minister must step down."
Dharwad BJP MP Joshi further said the High Court's ruling on the MUDA scam was an "eye-opener" for the Congress-led state government. "This scam is significant and could not have occurred without political influence. Therefore, I strongly urge the Chief Minister to resign and demand a CBI investigation," he added, speaking to ANI.
BJP MP Jagadish Shettar also called for Siddaramaiah's resignation on moral grounds, citing the need for an unbiased inquiry. Shettar said, "The FIR has to be filed against the CM, and his wife's name is also involved. He should resign immediately to allow for an impartial investigation."
Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra echoed the demand for the Chief Minister's resignation, saying the BJP had consistently fought against the "corrupt" Congress government. "The High Court’s dismissal of Siddaramaiah's petition shows that all are equal before the law. At this juncture, I demand CM Siddaramaiah's resignation," Vijayendra stated.
However, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar rejected calls for Siddaramaiah’s resignation, dismissing the BJP's claims as a "political conspiracy." Shivakumar defended the Chief Minister, saying, "He has not done anything wrong. This is a political conspiracy by the BJP against the opposition leaders of the country."
Shivakumar reiterated that the party respects the legal system but maintained that the allegations were unfounded. "We support Siddaramaiah fully. He has been working for the betterment of the state and the country," he added.
The High Court's dismissal of Siddaramaiah's petition pertains to the alleged illegal allotment of 14 MUDA sites in prime locations of Mysuru to his wife. The court ruled that Governor Gehlot’s sanction for prosecution did not lack "application of mind," clearing the way for further investigation.
On the other hand, following the alleged MUDA land allotment scam, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah firmly asserted his innocence.
During a press conference at his office, he stressed that the court's decision does not equate to a presumption of guilt, stating, “I have done nothing wrong.”
“I have done nothing wrong. If the High Court has allowed an inquiry against me, it does not imply I am guilty,” Siddaramaiah stated. He added that the court has merely approved an inquiry and has not permitted his prosecution. “I am yet to study the judgment. But the High Court has only approved an inquiry into the charges and not allowed my prosecution,” he explained.
The High Court's single-judge bench, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, clarified that the order is restrictive to an approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) and does not grant sanction under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Section 17A prohibits police from investigating offences committed by public servants without prior approval from the appropriate authority, while Section 218 addresses the prosecution process for public servants and judges.
Siddaramaiah accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in “vendetta politics” against him and claimed that the party has historically failed to capture power fairly in Karnataka. “The BJP has never captured power in the state in a straightforward way but through the backdoor,” he said, referencing past political tactics used against his government.
He also pointed to the electoral mandate received by the Congress party, which secured 136 seats in the 2023 elections, affirming, “I am not afraid of the conspiracies hatched by the BJP and JD(S). People have given us a clear mandate.” He indicated that he would consult with his cabinet colleagues and legal experts before determining his next steps.
The BJP has called for Siddaramaiah's resignation on moral grounds, with opposition leader R. Ashok stating, “Siddaramaiah should resign. He claims to be a follower of Ramakrishna Hegde. But Hegde had resigned when he faced allegations of corruption.” BJP state president BY Vijayendra also emphasised the need for Siddaramaiah to honour the court's order and step down.
In contrast, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief D.K. Shivakumar defended Siddaramaiah, arguing that the allegations are politically motivated. “The chief minister has done nothing wrong. This is a political conspiracy against the chief minister by the BJP,” he said, asserting his confidence that Siddaramaiah would clear his name.
Union minister Shobha Karandlaje criticised Siddaramaiah, alleging a history of corruption linked to his previous tenure as chief minister, specifically regarding efforts to weaken the Lokayukta. “Siddaramaiah has a history of trying to dismantle the Lokayukta during his first stint as the chief minister,” she claimed, asserting that he illegally took land in Mysuru as compensation.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy defended Siddaramaiah's position, accusing the BJP of misusing the Governor's office to undermine non-BJP governments. “There is no question of Siddaramaiah stepping down. He has the support of all the MLAs. We can still appeal before the double bench, full bench of the High Court and also petition the Supreme Court,” Reddy stated.
Industries Minister M.B. Patil pointed out that while the Governor granted sanction for inquiry under Section 17A in Siddaramaiah's case, other cases involving BJP leaders had sought prosecution under the more severe Section 218 of the BNSS without such approval.
IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge called the situation part of the BJP's broader strategy, asserting that the party is attempting to destabilise the Congress government. “This is part of the Centre's playbook and BJP's standard operating procedure,” he said.
Labour Minister Santosh Lad questioned the BJP's moral authority to demand Siddaramaiah's resignation, referencing a Supreme Court ruling related to electoral bonds involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “BJP has no right to speak on morality. We will appeal before the higher bench,” Lad stated.
As the political landscape in Karnataka continues to evolve, Siddaramaiah's leadership faces scrutiny amid the ongoing inquiry, with both sides preparing for potential legal and political battles ahead.
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