<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family members have been given a clean chit by the Karnataka Lokayukta in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case.&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">CM Siddaramaiah was named as 'Accused No. 1', his wife BM Parvathi as 'Accused No. 2', and his brother-in-law Mallikarjunaswamy as 'Accused No. 3'.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A landowner, J Devaraju, was named as 'Accused No. 4'.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was alleged that CM Siddaramaiah fraudulently secured the allotment of 14 sites by MUDA in his wife&rsquo;s name in exchange for the acquisition of 3.16 acres of land.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Karnataka Lokayukta, which investigated the matter, has issued a clean chit to CM Siddaramaiah and the other accused.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This was conveyed in a notice to the petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, on Wednesday.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Lokayukta has instructed Snehamayi Krishna to approach the magistrate within a week of receiving the notice if he wishes to oppose the findings.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Superintendent of Police TJ Udesh stated in the notice that the investigation concluded the case was of a civil nature and not fit for criminal investigation.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The charges were found to be either based on a misconception or a misunderstanding of the law, and no action could be initiated.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The notice further specified that no evidence was found against CM Siddaramaiah and the other accused as the fourth point.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The notice also stated that the charges against Accused Nos. 1 to 4 in the MUDA case were unproven due to a lack of evidence. The final report has been accepted by the court.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, the alleged scam regarding the allotment of sites under the 50:50 ratio by MUDA will be further investigated, and a final report will be submitted under Section 173(8) of the CrPC.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Reacting to the development, Snehamayi Krishna said: "The entire nation has been eagerly awaiting this report, and now the Lokayukta officials, who are preparing to submit it to the honorable court, have issued a notice to me!"</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">"It seems there is a lack of evidence to support my allegations. Only officials who have compromised their conscience can produce such a report! This case is a glaring example of how investigating officers, under 'pressure', behave as if they are unaware of the evidence supporting the allegations," Snehamayi Krishna alleged.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The MUDA scam has created a political storm in the state, with opposition parties vehemently demanding CM Siddaramaiah's resignation.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the matter.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court recently quashed a petition seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).</span></div>
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<div><em><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&mdash;IANS</span></strong></em></div>

Allegations against Siddaramaiah & kin included fraudulent allocation of 14 sites in exchange for 3.16 acres of land

K'taka Lokayukta Gives CM Clean Chit in MUDA Case

Allegations against Siddaramaiah & kin included fraudulent allocation of 14 sites in exchange for 3.16 acres of land

February 19, 2025 | 18:19 IST