MUDA case: Karnataka HC to hear Siddaramaiah's appeal on January 25

The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the state government and other respondents on an appeal filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, challenging a single-judge bench’s decision upholding the Governor’s sanction to prosecute him in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind, has scheduled the next hearing for January 25, 2025.

Siddaramaiah’s appeal follows an earlier setback when Justice M Nagaprasanna dismissed his petition on September 24, ruling that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for investigation did not lack application of mind. This gubernatorial sanction was based on petitions filed by activists TJ Abraham, Pradeep Kumar, and Snehamayi Krishna, alleging irregularities in the allocation of 14 MUDA sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi BM, in a prime Mysuru locality.

The sites, part of a compensatory scheme by MUDA, were allotted in lieu of 3.16 acres of land in Kesare village, which Parvathi claimed was acquired from her. However, it is alleged that she lacked legal ownership of this land. Following public scrutiny, Parvathi wrote to MUDA



requesting the cancellation of the allotment, which MUDA subsequently accepted.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state government, argued before the Division Bench that the Governor does not have the constitutional authority to sanction the prosecution of a sitting Chief Minister. “If you start prosecuting Chief Ministers and Ministers in this manner, it will lead to chaos,” Sibal said. He described the issue as a “much larger constitutional matter” that goes beyond individual cases.

On the other hand, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, representing Devaraju, the original landowner, and Advocate KG Raghavan, appearing for complainant Snehamayi Krishna, defended the Governor’s sanction and the subsequent investigation.

The case has escalated since the Lokayukta police filed an FIR on September 27, naming Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and others. This followed a Special Court’s directive for a Lokayukta probe, with an investigation report due by December 24. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also initiated a parallel investigation, alleging money laundering in the allotment process.