In Karnataka Chief Minister vs Governor, Siddaramaiah’s High Court Move

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has moved the Karnataka High Court against Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision to sanction his prosecution in an alleged land scam case. Siddaramaiah is facing charges of alleged irregularities in the compensatory site allotment to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) during his tenure as chief minister.

While the BJP has been demanding his resignation over the allegations, the Congress has ruled out any such move. The chief minister has also termed the Governor’s move as “anti-Constitution” and “against the law”, and asserted he would challenge it in court since he has done “nothing wrong”.  

This marks yet another confrontation between a Governor and a state government led by a non-BJP party.

Read | Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case

Mr Gehlot had given a go-ahead to the Lokayukta on Saturday to prosecute Siddaramaiah in the alleged land scam case. The Chief Minister filed a petition this morning challenging the decision.

The sanction was based on petitions by three activists – Pradeep Kumar, TJ Abraham, and Snehamayi Krishna, who had alleged the allotment caused loss worth crores to the state exchequer.

It followed a notice to the Chief Minister, in which the Governor had asked him to explain within seven days why he shouldn’t be prosecuted. The state cabinet had called it “gross misuse of the Constitutional office” and asked the Governor to withdraw it.

In July, Mr Abraham had filed a Lokayukta complaint alleging that 14 sites in an upscale Mysuru neighbourhood were “illegally” allotted to BM Parvathi, wife of Siddaramaiah. This caused a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state exchequer, he had alleged.

Read | Explained: What Is MUDA Case In Which Siddaramaiah Will Be Prosecuted

Mr Krishna had also alleged the involvement of Siddaramaiah, his wife and MUDA and administrative officials in the scam.

Siddaramiah had claimed that the land for which his wife got a compensation, was gifted to her in 1998. But Ms Krishna alleged that the land was procured illegally in 2004 and was registered as being bought in 1998 using forged documents with the help of government officials.

Ms Parvathi sought compensation for this land in 2014, when Siddaramaiah was Chief Minister. But Siddaramaiah had said his wife was awarded compensation when the BJP was in power and that it was her right.