BENGALURU: In a major blow to Karnataka’s 15-month-old Congress govt, governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot on Saturday sanctioned the prosecution of chief minister Siddaramaiah in relation to the alleged Mysore City Growth Authority (Muda) land allotment rip-off.
The choice prompted speedy calls for from the opposition BJP-JD(S) for Siddaramaiah to step down on ethical grounds, inflicting concern among the many Congress management.
The governor’s sanction was granted below “Part 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Part 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023,” following petitions submitted by activists Pradeep Kumar SP, TJ Abraham, and Snehamayi Krishna.
The petitioners are anticipated to method the courtroom within the coming week. TJ Abraham, one of many complainants, expressed his intention to hunt the particular courtroom for public representatives to acknowledge the governor’s sanction.
What’s the Muda rip-off controversy ?
The controversy revolves across the alleged irregularities within the allotment of compensatory websites. On the coronary heart of the rip-off is a 3.2-acre parcel of land that was gifted to the Chief Minister’s spouse, Parvathi, by her brother Mallikarjunaswamy in 2010.
Following the acquisition of the land by Muda, Parvathi sought compensation and was subsequently allotted 14 plots. These plots are mentioned to be considerably extra beneficial than the unique piece of land.
The opposition events declare that the entire worth of the rip-off might probably fall inside the vary of Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore.
Full timeline of Muda rip-off controversy:
- December 2023: City growth division instructs the Mysore City Growth Authority (Muda) to halt website allotments below the 50:50 scheme as a result of extreme violations of laws.
- March 2024: Regardless of the sooner directives, Muda continued the allotments, prompting the division to challenge one other letter.
- April 2024: Muda delays its response, citing mannequin code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls.
- Might 2024: Muda chairman Ok Marigowda requests the division to division to analyze the allotments below the 50:50 scheme.
- June 2024 : Native newspapers start publishing articles highlighting the irregularities and potential rackets within the allotment of other websites in prime areas.
- June 2024 : An RTI activist revealed the alleged involvement of politicians, together with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s spouse, Parvati.
- June 2024: The state authorities appoints a four-member officers’ committee to analyze the matter.
- July 2024: BJP MLC AH Vishwanath claims that CM’s spouse has obtained a number of websites in a complicated locality.
- July 2024: Siddaramaiah responds by stating that different websites have been allotted to his spouse as a result of Muda had encroached on land gifted by her brother and developed a structure there.
- July 2024: Siddaramaiah provides to return the websites if Muda compensates him with Rs 62 crore.
- July 15, 2024: Authorities establishes a fee of inquiry, led by retired Excessive Court docket choose Justice PN Desai.
- July 18, 2024: Social activist TJ Abraham information criticism with Lokayukta police in Mysuru.
- July 21, 2024: TJ Abraham information petition with governor in search of sanction for prosecution of chief minister. Two extra petitions in search of prosecution are additionally filed.
- July 26, 2024: Governor points showcause discover to CM.
- July 15-26, 2024: Throughout monsoon session, BJP and JD(S) demand a debate on the raging challenge, which the speaker denies permission for.
- Aug 3-10, 2024: BJP and JD(S) members embark on padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru to protest and demand CM’s resignation, whereas the Congress held counter-rallies in response.
- Aug 1, 2024: Cupboard advises governor to withdraw showcause discover, claiming it’s unlawful and rejecting Abraham’s petition
- Aug 2024: Activist Shehamayi Krishna from Mysuru strikes particular courtroom for individuals’s representatives in search of unbiased probe.
- Aug 17, 2024: Governor grants sanction for prosecution of Siddaramaiah.
Second CM from Karnataka to face prosecution
Karnataka’s chief minister Siddaramaiah, aged 76, is going through prosecution whereas in workplace, making him the second CM within the state’s historical past to face such expenses. The primary was BJP’s BS Yediyurappa in 2011. Mockingly, Siddaramaiah, who demanded Yediyurappa’s resignation as opposition chief in 2011, now faces comparable expenses and rising calls for for his personal resignation. The present scenario resembles the occasions of 2011.
In Yediyurappa’s case, the then governor HR Bhardwaj authorised the prosecution on December 12, 2010, based mostly on a petition from advocates Sirajin Basha and KN Balaraj. The sanction was granted below “Part 19(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act1988, and Part 197 of Legal Process Code-1973.” This choice led to controversy and widespread protests by the BJP.
Regardless of stress, Yediyurappa didn’t resign instantly. He held a cupboard assembly to sentence the governor’s choice and fascinating in a prolonged authorized battle. He ultimately resigned after months of political stress and following an indictment by the then Lokayukta Santosh Hegde within the unlawful mining scandal.
The sanction towards Siddaramaiah provides to the listing of uncommon however vital situations in Indian political historical past the place governors have taken decisive actions towards chief ministers. Related eventualities have occurred in different states, such because the circumstances of J Jayalalithaa, AR Antulay, and Lalu Prasad Yadav, all of whom resigned following the sanction to prosecute them.
