BENGALURU: Facing a tough next three months, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that he was ready to undergo an investigation into the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam.
“I am ready to face the investigation. I am not afraid of any investigation. I am ready for a legal battle,” Siddaramaiah said after a special court hearing cases relating to elected representatives ordered the Lokayuka police in Mysore to launch a probe into the MUDA “scam”.
The special tribunal has asked for its report by December 24, meaning the next three months will be turbulent for Siddaramaiah, whose image as “Mr Clean”, a two-time chief minister, is now hanging in the balance.
Sources said Siddaramaiah has approached legal adviser AS Ponnana and Attorney General Shashi Kiran Shetty for suggestions on his next steps. There is also speculation that once the Lokayukta registers a First Information Report (FIR), Siddaramaiah may challenge it.
“We will take a final decision after consulting our lawyers,” Siddaramaiah said before leaving for Kerala, where he addressed an event along with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s camp pointed out that Siddaramaiah would have to exhaust all legal remedies in the high courts before approaching the Supreme Court.
Siddaramaiah, who has been firm in his stance so far, is hoping for some sort of legal relief and the Congress is also waiting to see what the Chief Minister’s decision will be.
“The prime minister will continue with business as usual,” said MLC Prakash Rathod. “The prime minister is not disheartened. He is determined to fight. The very fact that PM Modi himself spoke about the matter at a rally in Haryana shows that this is more of a political than a judicial issue,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he was confident that Siddaramaiah would plead innocent. “The chief minister is not involved. We do not know if any (MUDA) officials did anything,” he said.
Investigative committee continues: CM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday made it clear that a one-man inquiry committee headed by retired High Court judge PN Desai would go ahead and probe into irregularities in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). “Will the inquiry be postponed? It will continue. There will be no stay on the inquiry committee,” Siddaramaiah said. The inquiry committee, set up on July 14, has been asked to probe MUDA’s affairs from 2006 to July 15, 2024.
Published on 25 Sep 2024, 15:40 IST
