What is MUDA Scam? Why CM Siddaramaiah, Wife are Facing the Heat

Bengaluru: Allegations have emerged regarding the potential misuse of compensatory residential site allotments by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), involving land previously owned by Parvathi Siddaramaiah, wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The opposition and BJP have labeled this controversy as the ‘MUDA Scam.’

Siddaramaiah's Wife Received Land From MUDA

Parvathi, Siddaramaiah's Wife received 3 acres of land in Kesare village on the outskirts of Mysuru, as a gift from her brother Mallikarjun. This land was acquired by MUDA for development, and in return, Parvathi was allocated 38,283 square feet of prime residential plots in Vijayanagar, a sought-after area in south Mysuru, in 2021.

As per the reports, Urban Development Minister Byrati Suresh has already transferred four officers including MUDA Commissioner Dinesh Kumar.

As initial information was received through RTIs filed by RTI activist Gangaraju on MUDA developed Devanur layout on land belonging to Siddaramaiah’s wife

Critics allege that the market value of the Vijayanagar plots significantly exceeds that of the original Kesare land, fueling accusations of a scam by the BJP. Notably, the land allocation occurred during the previous BJP administration of former CM Basavraj Bommai.  

Siddaramaiah Denies Allegations of Scam 

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah however rejected the scam allegations in connection with receiving expensive land in the name of his wife from Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), claiming that the land was illegally taken from her by the authoritiy. He asserted that his wife, Parvathi Siddaramaiah, was entitled to compensation.
 

Karnataka Governor Sanctions to Prosecute Siddaramaiah

In a huge political development, Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has signed the file granting sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as confirmed to Republic Kannada. This decision follows allegations of impropriety in the allocation of sites to his wife under the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).