The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday has issued a notice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in response to a writ petition filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna.
The petition seeks to transfer the Mysuru Urban Development Authority site allotment case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who is overseeing the case, also directed that notices be sent to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi B. M., brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, the Union of India, the State government, the CBI, and the Lokayukta.
The court instructed the Lokayukta to provide an update on the investigation conducted thus far. The next hearing has been scheduled for November 26.
In parallel, the Lokayukta police have summoned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is the primary accused in this case, for questioning on November 6. His wife, Parvathi, who is named as the second accused, was questioned by the Lokayukta police on October 25.
The allegations against Siddaramaiah involve illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife by MUDA. Alongside Siddaramaiah and Parvathi, Swamy, who is Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law, and Devaraju, from whom Swamy purchased land to gift to Parvathi, have also been named in the FIR filed by the Lokayukta police in Mysuru on September 27.
Both Swamy and Devaraju have provided testimonies to the Lokayukta police as part of the ongoing investigation.
The court’s intervention highlights the seriousness of the allegations surrounding the allotment of land and the involvement of public officials in the case.
As the investigation unfolds, the Karnataka High Court’s actions indicate a commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in matters concerning public resources and governance.
With the next hearing set for late November, the developments in this case are likely to attract significant public attention, especially given the stature of the individuals involved and the implications for political accountability in Karnataka.
The outcome may have broader ramifications for governance and integrity within the state’s political landscape.
