MUDA scam story: Four options available with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

CM Siddaramaiah (PTI photo)

With Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot authorizing an investigation into corruption charges, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has firmly rejected calls for his resignation.

Siddaramaiah accused the BJP and JD(S) of attempting to destabilize the Karnataka government, following similar political maneuvers in Jharkhand and Delhi. "We will fight against this," Siddaramaiah declared, emphasizing that the Congress high command, the entire Cabinet, and all party lawmakers fully support him.

Here are the four options Siddaramaiah can use, according to a report in The Times of India:

• Siddaramaiah has the option to challenge the governor's sanction by filing a petition in the Karnataka High Court. Should the High Court reject his plea, he can then appeal to the Supreme Court. Grounds for contesting the sanction might include questioning the governor's authority, highlighting procedural errors, or arguing the lack of a prima facie case against him. This legal battle could be lengthy, potentially delaying any immediate consequences.
• Siddaramaiah's position as Chief Minister remains robust thanks to the strong backing from his party and the state cabinet. The Congress has united in support of him, and the cabinet has denounced the governor's decision as unconstitutional. With such solidarity, the chances of Siddaramaiah resigning seem slim. The Congress leadership may perceive the situation as politically motivated and is likely to defend him vigorously, both legally and publicly.
• With the backing of the party high command, Siddaramaiah is likely to reject the opposition's calls for his resignation. He may argue that similar situations in the past did not result in the resignation of other leaders. For example, former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa remained in office even after the then-governor sanctioned his prosecution in connection with an illegal denotification scam.
• Siddaramaiah can challenge the petitions filed against him by social activist Snehamayi Krishna before the special court for people's representatives. His legal team could argue for the dismissal of these petitions on grounds such as insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The outcome of this challenge will be crucial in shaping the future course of legal proceedings against him.

The alleged MUDA scam involves the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and a questionable land exchange where valuable urban land was traded for less valuable rural plots.

Parvathi Siddaramaiah, wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is said to have gained from irregularities when MUDA purchased her 3-acre site in Kesare village, Mysuru, in 2021. The transaction reportedly involved swapping this land for more valuable plots in the affluent Vijayanagar neighborhood of Mysuru. Critics argue that these new plots are significantly more valuable on the market compared to the land she originally owned.

Karnataka Anti-Graft and Environmental Forum—formally claimed that Siddaramaiah had omitted to include his wife's land holdings.

Filing a complaint under many sections of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1950, the complaint claims that the omission was done "with his absolute knowledge and clearly with some ulterior motives," and it demands judicial action against the Chief Minister.