Bengaluru, Aug 17 (UNI) In a dramatic twist that has sent shockwaves through Karnataka’s political landscape, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday greenlit the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over alleged irregularities tied to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
The decision, based on petitions filed by three relentless activists, has added fuel to an already blazing controversy surrounding the senior Congress leader.
The Governor’s directive, which was communicated in a formal letter, has escalated the situation significantly.
“As directed by the Governor, I am enclosing herewith the copy of the decision of the Competent Authority on the request of sanction for prosecution against the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Samhitha, 2023, for the commission of the alleged offences mentioned in the petitions,” the letter stated.
At the heart of the scandal are allegations that Siddaramaiah, along with his wife BM Parvathi, son S Yathindra, and senior MUDA officials, orchestrated the illegal allocation of 14 prime sites in an upscale Mysuru neighborhood.
The activists—Pradeep Kumar, TJ Abraham, and Snehamayi Krishna—claim that these allocations, carried out using forged documents, have drained a staggering Rs 45 crore from the state’s coffers.
The accusations have been swirling for months, but Siddaramaiah has consistently dismissed them as nothing more than politically motivated attacks aimed at undermining his position. Yet, the Governor’s decision to proceed with prosecution marks a turning point, intensifying the stakes for the Chief Minister and his government.
Last month, the Governor issued a show-cause notice to Siddaramaiah, demanding a response to the allegations within seven days. The move prompted a swift backlash from the state cabinet, which passed a resolution urging the Governor to withdraw the notice and accusing him of “gross misuse of the Constitutional Office.”
The opposition, particularly the BJP, has seized upon this controversy with vigor. The party, which has been vocal in its demand for a CBI investigation, recently organized a weeklong padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru, rallying supporters and accusing the Congress government of rampant corruption.
Siddaramaiah, however, is not backing down. He has countered the BJP’s offensive by pointing out that the compensation awarded to his wife was sanctioned during the BJP’s own tenure in power.
He questioned the timing of these accusations, suggesting they are part of a larger conspiracy to tarnish his political reputation.
As this high-stakes political drama unfolds, the implications for Karnataka’s political future are immense. The case against Siddaramaiah could become a pivotal issue, deepening the already fierce rivalry between the Congress and the BJP in the state.
One thing is clear: the battle lines have been drawn, and the fallout from this scandal is far from over.
