Siddaramaiah, the former chief minister of Karnataka, is being investigated for alleged money laundering related to MUDA.

The news of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah being booked by the Enforcement Directorate for money laundering has been making headlines in both New Delhi and Bengaluru. According to official sources, the federal agency has taken action after taking note of a recent FIR filed by the state Lokayukta. An enforcement case information report has been filed to begin proceedings against Siddaramaiah and several others involved in the case.

Among those named in the FIR are Siddaramaiah's wife, B M Parvathi, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju. It is alleged that Swamy had purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi, leading to their inclusion in the investigation. The FIR was registered by the Lokayukta police establishment in Mysuru on September 27 after a special court in Bengaluru ordered a probe against Siddaramaiah last week.

This court order came after the high court upheld the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for an investigation into the allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to Siddaramaiah's wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. In response, the ED has invoked sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to initiate proceedings in their own ECIR, equivalent to a police FIR.

As per protocol, the ED has the power to summon the accused for questioning and seize their assets during the course of the investigation. Siddaramaiah, who is 76 years old, has stated that he is being targeted in this case as the opposition is afraid of him. He has called it a political move and has made it clear that he will not resign over these allegations. He stands firm in his belief that he has done nothing wrong and is prepared to defend himself in court.

The case in question involves the allotment of compensatory sites to Siddaramaiah's wife in a posh area of Mysuru, which has a higher property value compared to the location of her original land that was acquired by MUDA. The Lokayukta FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 120B, 166, 403, 406, 420, 426, 465, 468, 340, and 351. This is a serious matter and the investigation is expected to shed light on any wrongdoings and hold those responsible accountable. The PTI has been providing updates on the case as it unfolds.

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