Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday strongly criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly attempting to sway the judicial process.
He accused the ED of writing a letter to the Lokayukta just one day before a petition involving his government was to be heard in the High Court, suggesting the ED’s actions were meant to influence the court’s decision.
Siddaramaiah said, “The ED sent a letter to the Lokayukta the day before our petition was due for hearing in the High Court, clearly aiming to affect the court’s judgment.” He argued that the inquiry report should have only been shared with the Lokayukta after a thorough investigation, rather than prematurely releasing it and leaking it to the media.
He further claimed that there was a political motive behind the ED’s actions, aimed at creating bias and influencing the court through media coverage.
In a post on social media, the Chief Minister elaborated, stating, “The ED’s letter to the Lokayukta, right before our petition’s hearing, is an attempt to influence the judicial process.” He emphasized, “Although the ED is conducting an investigation, it is improper for them to present an inquiry report at this stage.
The timing and media leak suggest a politically motivated move to prejudge the court’s stance.”
Siddaramaiah also pointed out that the High Court had instructed the Lokayukta to submit the investigation report by December 24, and suggested that the ED could have waited until the investigation was completed before presenting its findings. He added, “The people of the state will understand the real agenda behind these actions.”
The ED’s recent letter to the Karnataka Lokayukta claimed that the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) had illegally allocated 1,095 sites through benami and other improper transactions. The ED also alleged that the allotment of sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife was part of these unlawful dealings.
In response to rumors about a potential cabinet reshuffle, Siddaramaiah dismissed the speculation, saying, “I never stated that a reshuffle would take place. You’ve fabricated the news yourself. Even the high command has not given any such instructions.”
