In the aftermath of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) action in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra has called the investigation a “major victory” for the party. He claimed that the ED’s findings exposed “significant corruption” involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vijayendra stated, “Major Victory in our Fight Against the MUDA Scam! The ED’s investigation has exposed significant corruption involving CM @siddaramaiah, who allegedly used his political influence to illegally allocate sites in the name of his wife. The allocation of sites to benamis and dummies of influential persons further highlights the systemic corruption at play.”
He also criticized the Congress party for undermining the Governor’s constitutional authority. “When His Excellency Governor granted sanction for prosecution of CM Siddaramaiah, the Congress party spared no effort in insulting & undermining the constitutional authority of Governor. The Karnataka High Court had also upheld the Governor’s decision, emphasizing that the allegations against the Chief Minister’s family warranted deeper investigation,” Vijayendra added.
The state BJP chief highlighted the persistent protests by the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) against what they termed the “blatant misuse” of power by Siddaramaiah and his associates, both inside and outside the assembly. He further emphasized that the ED’s findings not only validated their fight against corruption but also revealed that the scam was more widespread than initially believed.
“This is also a Big Slap on those who were quick to deride our campaign against corruption! This revelation is merely the tip of the iceberg. It is alleged that thousands of crores in public money have been misappropriated in this scam. A comprehensive CBI investigation is required to uncover the full extent of this scandal,” Vijayendra asserted.
He went on to urge the Chief Minister to step down if he values the integrity of his office. “If CM @siddaramaiah values the integrity of his office, he must step down immediately and allow an impartial probe to proceed. The people of Karnataka deserve transparency, accountability, and justice,” he said.
The Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the MUDA case has seen the attachment of 142 immovable properties worth an estimated Rs 300 crore. These properties, registered in the names of various individuals, are allegedly linked to real estate businessmen and agents.
The ED launched the investigation based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Lokayuktha Police in Mysore under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case involves allegations that Siddaramaiah used his political influence to obtain compensation in the form of 14 residential sites in a posh locality, allegedly for his wife BM Parvathi, in exchange for three acres and 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA. This land, originally valued at Rs 3,24,700, was reportedly exchanged for sites worth approximately Rs 56 crore.
The ED’s action follows growing calls for a deeper investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds and the involvement of influential individuals in the scam.