Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court on Wednesday directed the Lokayukta police to investigate Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in connection with allegations of irregularities in the allotment of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites. The probe was ordered by Special Court Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, just a day after the Karnataka high court upheld Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction for an inquiry into the matter.
The court issued directions to take up investigation under section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) (that gives a magistrate the power to order an investigation into a cognisable offense.) It directed the Lokayukta police to file the investigation report by December 24.
The chief minister said he was not afraid of a probe.
“Already I have said that I am ready to face an investigation. I am not afraid of a probe,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. “I am ready for a legal fight. I had said this yesterday and I am reiterating it today as well.”
The high court dismissed Siddaramaiah’s plea against the governor’s August 16 order sanctioning an investigation under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988. The governor’s approval was in response to complaints lodged by activists Pradeep Kumar S P, T J Abraham, and Snehamayi Krishna, accusing the chief minister of benefiting from the illegal allotment of valuable MUDA plots.
