Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiaah Slamming the opposition for demanding his resignation, said that he is not guilty as the court has only ordered a probe into the controversial MUDA case.
BENGALURU — The Karnataka High Court has quashed the writ petition filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioning the prosecution order given by the Governor in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.
The bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order on Tuesday upholding Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision.
The bench stated that the private complainants can seek consent for the prosecution and the bench has also underlined that the move to seek permission for consent under Section 17(A) is appropriate.
The bench also stated that the Governor’s action in this regard is correct.
The development is likely to create ripples in the state politics.
Ahead of the Karnataka High Court verdict, security was beefed up around Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s residence here. The Bengaluru Police deputed two platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) at the CM’s residence
The police have been directed to be on high alert to avert any untoward incidents, said officials.
Siddaramaiah had sought interim relief in the matter as well as also had demanded the quashing of the Governor’s orders.
Now, that the verdict has gone against CM Siddaramaiah, the lower court will initiate legal proceedings such as filing of FIR against him in the MUDA case. This will lead to further pressure on the Chief Minister to tender his resignation.
Sources confirmed that CM Siddaramaiah will now approach the Supreme Court challenging the order by the High Court against him.
The High Court on September 12 completed the hearing of arguments and counterarguments on the writ petition filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. While Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the CM, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Governor’s office.
Social activists Pradeep Kumar SP, T.J. Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna had filed petitions against CM Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDA land scam.
They had claimed that Siddaramaiah had misused his office to create fraudulent documents over 3.17 acres of land near Mysuru city and got 14 sites allotted from the MUDA in the name of his wife.
CM Siddaramaiah had refuted the allegations and maintained that the Congress government would fight politically and legally over the permission for prosecution against him in the case granted by the Governor.
K’taka BJP chief Demands Siddaramaiah’s Resignation
The BJP has demanded CM Siddaramaiah’s resignation after the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, quashed his petition in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.
Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters here, state President B.Y. Vijayendra said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should tender his resignation respectfully and exit from the seat of power.
“The court has stated that the legal action against CM Siddaramaiah is as per the law and upheld the decision of the Governor to hand over the MUDA case against him to the prosecution. The court has also stated that the family members of CM Siddaramaiah are beneficiaries in the case,” he stated.
“I urge the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at this stage to respect the High Court decision. The allegations are made against the CM and his family. CM Siddaramaiah should tender resignation respectfully,” Vijayendra demanded.
‘I am not guilty, court only ordered probe’
BMeanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiaah Slamming the opposition for demanding his resignation, said that he is not guilty as the court has only ordered a probe into the controversial MUDA case.
“Kumaraswamy is on bail. Did anyone ask for his resignation? The court has only directed an inquiry into the MUDA case that does not mean that I am guilty,” said the Chief Minister while addressing a press conference at his home office ‘Krishna’ in Bengaluru.
He added that the court has given the verdict under 17 (A) of the PC Act, adding that the matter has been handed over to the investigation.
“Won’t moral standards apply to Kumaraswamy? He is with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. Why don’t you (media) ask him? At this stage only an inquiry has been ordered against me. Why do you ask for a resignation at this stage? We will tackle it politically as it is a conspiracy,” the Chief Minister said.
He said that the development would be challenged politically and legally, adding that the court has totally rejected the demand of the petitioners under the BNSS Section 218.
He said that earlier, the Governor had rejected the petitioner’s demand of giving sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act.
“I am not afraid of conspiracy of the BJP and JD-S. The people of Karnataka are with our party and they are with me. It’s not possible to dislodge our government through money power and Operation Lotus. They succeeded in 2008 and 2019. This time, the people of Karnataka have given us absolute majority to Congress. We have 136 MLAs on our side,” the Chief Minister said. — IANS
