MUDA Scam: Has Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara Fled India?

Bengaluru/New Delhi: As Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah approached the High Court to challenge the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam,' state Home Minister G. Parameshwar has mysteriously left India for an undisclosed foreign destination, Republic Kannada has learnt. 

The sudden departure has sparked speculation, particularly given the ongoing law and order concerns in the state, with protests erupting in several districts. Parameshwar’s departure comes just after a meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru. The absence of any official statement regarding the purpose or location of his visit has further fueled intrigue. As the second most senior minister in the Karnataka government, Parameshwar has long been seen as a contender for the Chief Minister’s post, especially if Siddaramaiah is forced to step down.

Meanwhile, a political storm has erupted with demands by the BJP for the Congress leader's resignation. However, Siddaramaiah, 76, firmly ruled out his resignation--both before and after a specially convened meeting of the state Cabinet--and said he had done no wrong to quit after the governor's move in the alleged corruption case dealt a big jolt to the nearly 15-month-old Congress government.

As the Congress and the state Cabinet rallied behind Siddaramaiah, a prominent OBC leader, the chief minister and his deputy DK Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, denounced the governor's action, calling it "unconstitutional and illegal", and vowed to fight the move politically and legally.

The governor’s sanction, which comes at a time when the Congress is facing a factional feud in a key southern state, is expected to pave the way for investigating agencies to initiate a probe into the allegations against the chief minister.

Congress workers and supporters of Siddaramaiah staged protests in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and several other parts of the state against the governor's move. 

Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala dubbed the governor's action as an act of “political vendetta”, In Bengaluru, a massive protest was organised by Congress workers and members of 'Karnataka Pradesh Kurubara Sangha' demanding removal of the Governor.

Raising anti-Gehlot slogans, they burnt his effigies and carried placards saying "Remove Governor, Save State" Granting sanction, the governor said it is very necessary to conduct a neutral, objective, and non-partisan investigation, adding that he is prima facie "satisfied" that the allegations and the supporting materials disclose commission of offences.

Gehlot also termed as "irrational" the decision taken by the Council of Ministers advising him to withdraw his show-cause notice to the chief minister and to reject the application seeking prosecution sanction.   

The Karnataka government had on August 1 "strongly advised" the governor to withdraw his "show-cause notice" to the Chief Minister and alleged "gross misuse of the Constitutional Office'' of the governor.

The Congress government on July 14 constituted a single member inquiry commission under former High Court Judge Justice P N Desai to probe the MUDA 'scam'. Opposition BJP and JD(S) in Karnataka had held a week-long 'padayatre' (foot march) earlier this month from Bengaluru to Mysuru demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation in connection with the scam.