New Delhi: In a significant development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money-laundering case tied to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). This move follows a recent FIR filed by the state Lokayukta, which has raised serious allegations against the senior Congress leader, along with several others. On Monday, September 30, official sources revealed that the ED had lodged an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) to formally initiate proceedings against Siddaramaiah and his associates.
The FIR, registered on September 27 by the Lokayukta police in Mysuru, stems from an order issued by a special court in Bengaluru that mandated a probe into the matter. This order was made a day after the Karnataka High Court upheld the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for investigating Siddaramaiah regarding alleged illegalities in the allotment of 14 plots to his wife by MUDA. The ED has invoked multiple provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in this case, allowing the agency to summon the accused for questioning and potentially attach assets during the investigation.
Siddaramaiah, 76, has publicly declared that he believes he is being targeted politically due to his influence, asserting that this is the first significant legal challenge he has faced. He has expressed confidence that he has done no wrong and intends to fight the allegations legally, stating that he will not resign from his position as Chief Minister. The Lokayukta FIR alleges that Siddaramaiah’s wife was granted compensatory sites in a prime area of Mysuru, which had a higher property value compared to her original land.
The FIR includes serious charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal conspiracy, public servant misconduct, dishonest misappropriation of property, cheating, fzorgery, and more. As investigations unfold, the political ramifications of this case are expected to reverberate throughout Karnataka, drawing attention to issues of corruption and governa nce in the state.