BENGALURU: In a significant blow to 15-month-old Karnataka Congress govt, governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot there is a sanction to prosecute the chief minister Siddaramaiah in relation to the alleged Mysore City Development Authority (young) land division fraud.
The decision led to immediate demands from the opposition BJP-JD(S) for Siddaramaiah to step down on moral grounds, raising concerns among Congress leaders.
The governor’s sanction was given under “Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023,” following a petition filed by activists Pradeep Kumar SP, TJ Abraham, and Snehamayi Krishna.
The petitioners are expected to approach the court in the coming weeks. TJ Abraham, one of the complainants, expressed his intention to request a special court for the public representative to recognize the sanction of the governor.
What is the Muda scam controversy?
The controversy is over alleged irregularities in the allocation of compensation sites. At the heart of the scam is a 3.2 acre piece of land given to the Chief Minister’s wife, Parvathi, by Mallikarjunaswamy’s brother in 2010.
After Muda acquired the land, Parvathi asked for compensation and was then allotted 14 plots. The plot is said to be more valuable than the original land.
Opposition parties have alleged that the total value of the scam may be in the range of Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore.
Complete timeline of the Young fraud controversy:
- December 2023: The urban development department has ordered the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) to stop the allotment of sites under the 50:50 scheme for gross violation of regulations.
- March 2024: Despite the earlier directive, Muda continued the allotment, prompting the department to issue another letter.
- April 2024: Muda delayed his response, citing the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls.
- May 2024: Junior Chairman K Marigowda asked department to department to look into allotment under 50:50 scheme.
- June 2024: Local newspapers began publishing articles highlighting irregularities and potential racketeering in the allotment of alternative sites in prime locations.
- June 2024: RTI activists revealed the involvement of politicians, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati.
- June 2024: The state government appointed a four-member committee of officers to investigate the matter.
- July 2024: BJP MLC AH Vishwanath said the CM’s wife has received several sites in posh areas.
- July 2024: Siddaramaiah responded by stating that an alternative site was given to his wife as Muda had encroached on the land given by his sister and made a layout there.
- July 2024: Siddaramaiah offered to return the site if Muda was compensated with Rs 62 crore.
- July 15, 2024: The government set up a commission of inquiry, headed by retired High Court judge PN Desai.
- July 18, 2024: Social activist TJ Abraham filed a complaint with the Lokayukta police in Mysuru.
- July 21, 2024: TJ Abraham filed a petition with the governor seeking sanction for the prosecution of the chief minister. Two additional petitions calling for prosecution were also filed.
- July 26, 2024: The issue of Governor sharing the news to the CM.
- 15-26 July 2024: During the monsoon session, the BJP and JD(S) demanded a debate on the fraught issue, which the speaker did not allow.
- 3-10 August 2024: Members of the BJP and JD(S) started a padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru to protest and demand the resignation of the CM, while the Congress held a counter rally.
- August 1, 2024: The cabinet advised the governor to withdraw the showcause notice, claiming it was illegal and rejecting Abraham’s petition
- August 2024: Activist Shehamyi Krishna from Mysuru moved a special court for people’s representatives seeking an independent probe.
- August 17, 2024: The governor sanctioned Siddaramaiah’s prosecution.
Second CM from Karnataka to face prosecution
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, 76, faced prosecution while in office, making him the second CM in the state’s history to face such charges. The first was BJP’s BS Yediyurappa in 2011. Ironically, Siddaramaiah, who demanded Yediyurappa’s resignation as opposition leader in 2011, is now facing the same allegations and many demands for his resignation. The current situation is similar to what happened in 2011.
In Yediyurappa’s case, then governor HR Bhardwaj approved the prosecution on December 12, 2010, based on a petition by lawyers Sirajin Basha and KN Balaraj. The sanction is given under “Article 19(1) Prevention of Corruption Law 1988, and Article 197 KUHP-1973.” This decision sparked controversy and widespread protests by the BJP.
Despite the pressure, Yediyurappa did not back down immediately. He held a cabinet meeting to condemn the governor’s decision and engaged in a long legal battle. He finally resigned after months of political pressure and following an indictment by Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in the illegal mining scandal.
The sanction against Siddaramaiah adds to the list of rare but significant instances in Indian political history where governors have taken decisive action against chief ministers. A similar scenario has also happened in other states, such as the cases of J Jayalalithaa, AR Antulay, and Lalu Prasad Yadav, who all resigned after being sanctioned to prosecute.
