MYSURU: The final report of the Lokayukta investigation into the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) site allotment case has revealed that chief minister Siddaramaiah was not involved in the Kesare land transactions, and the 14 compensation sites allotted to his wife, BM Parvathi. Sources say the report, recently submitted to the Karnataka high court, states that the chief minister became aware of the disputed land only in mid-2013.
Sleuths questioned over 100 officials from Muda, revenue, and land records departments, besides several politicians, but reportedly found no substantial evidence linking Siddaramaiah to the case.
During questioning, sources say Siddaramaiah said he was unaware that his brother-in-law, BM Mallikarjuna Swamy, had purchased de-notified land in 2005 or the subsequent transfer of three acres and 16 guntas to his wife in 2010. He said that he learnt about it only after the 2013 assembly elections and, as an elected representative, had declared it in his 2014 assets and liabilities report to the Lokayukta as per rules.
During an interrogation in early Nov, Siddaramaiah reportedly answered over two dozen queries. When asked about his election affidavit, he said, “I don’t exactly remember the declaration of land and sites.”
Denying any influence over the transactions, Siddaramaiah said he had no acquaintance with Kesare landowner Devaraju but acknowledged knowing Basavalingappa, the middleman who facilitated Mallikarjuna Swamy’s land purchase.
“I have never influenced any transactions,” he told investigators, adding that he never met Mallikarjuna Swamy regarding the land deal or facilitated development work in Kesare during his tenure as CM. He also distanced himself from his wife’s compensation applications to Muda, claiming he only learnt about them through then-chairman Dhruvakumar. He emphasised that he did not play any role in the approval process.
The sites were allotted to Parvathi when BJP was at the helm and Siddaramaiah was leader of the opposition. Siddaramaiah pointed out that the allocation was overseen by HV Rajeev, then Muda chairman, who is affiliated with BJP. He also denied any knowledge of a govt guest house being used for Parvathi’s registration process.
Siddaramaiah’s account of the incident was backed by Parvathi’s statements, who told sleuths that her husband was not involved in the transactions and that she voluntarily returned the sites, prioritising his reputation. The Lokayukta report is said to have accepted the CM’s answers, which were corroborated by other testimonies. Additionally, Mallikarjuna Swamy defended the 2005 land purchase, asserting that it was done using personal savings and his parents’ pension.
The investigation was launched after a special court, on Sep 27 last year, directed police to file an FIR against Siddaramaiah and three others, based on social activist Snehamayi Krishna’s petition. While investigators examined potential charges under the IPC, Prevention of Corruption Act, Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, and the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, the Lokayukta reportedly concluded that the allegations were unsubstantiated.
