K’taka Court Accepts Closure Report Against CM Siddaramaiah In Bribery Case

Siddaramaiah

A special court designed to handle criminal cases involving elected representatives has accepted the closure report submitted by the Karnataka Lokayukta police in a bribery case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The case raised from allegations made by a BJP leader, who claimed that Siddaramaiah had received a bribe of Rs 1.3 crore during his previous term as Chief Minister. The payment was allegedly in exchange for appointing a steward at the Bengaluru Turf Club (BTC).

On January 18, the court ruled to accept the closure report, which had been filed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police from the Karnataka Lokayukta. In its order, the court stated, “The closure report filed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru, dated 12.9.2024, is hereby accepted.” It further noted that although records showed that Siddaramaiah had received Rs 1.3 crore from L. Vivekananda, the person accused in the case, the transaction could not be categorized as a quid pro quo related to the nomination of the BTC steward.

Earlier, the special court had directed the Lokayukta police to reopen the investigation. Following this directive, the police conducted further inquiries, but ultimately concluded their investigation by filing a closure report. The court’s decision to accept this report effectively closed the case.

This ruling provides a significant development in the case, as the court found no evidence linking the monetary transaction to any improper exchange related to Siddaramaiah’s role in appointing the BTC steward. Despite the closure of the case, the allegations and the investigation have drawn considerable attention, reflecting the scrutiny that high-ranking officials often face in the political and legal arenas.