Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Under Investigation in Corruption Case

A Special Court in Bengaluru has ordered a swift investigation into a corruption complaint against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The proceeding follows a Karnataka High Court decision, which upheld the sanction given by the Governor to probe allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister. The charges stem from alleged benefits amounting to ₹56 crore that Siddaramaiah’s family reportedly received following the allotment of land to his wife, B.M. Parvathi.

The complaint, filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna, accuses Siddaramaiah of illegalities in the site allotment by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). It is alleged that B.M. Parvathi received compensatory sites in an upscale area, valued higher than her original land. Critics claimed she lacked legal title to this land.

The High Court had earlier dismissed Siddaramaiah’s objections to the Governor’s actions, arguing that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot acted independently given the potential bias of the Council of Ministers. Siddaramaiah argued that prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act should pertain only to police investigations, not private complaints.

Siddaramaiah has strongly denied any wrongdoing, labeling the accusations a “BJP conspiracy”. “There is no question of resigning because I have done no wrong,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. He cited examples of political figures who did not resign amidst allegations, insisting his case is no different.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar backed Siddaramaiah, suggesting the charges are politically motivated by opposition parties like BJP and JD(S) who are allegedly unsettled by the government’s welfare schemes.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has ramped up pressure by staging protests demanding Siddaramaiah’s resignation at key locations including in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha.

The Special Court, led by Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, directed the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to initiate a probe into the MUDA land allotment issue.