Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.
"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.
Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.
He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".
The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.
There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.
He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.
On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".
But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".
And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".
Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.
Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.
Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.
The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.
He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.
"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.
Comments
Dear respected Seer
This is all election gimmick.
BJP dont have any Muddah to move with. So they are trying to fool the hindu brothers and sisters by playing with their sentiments. Even the locals both Hindu and muslims of Ayodya doesnt want to communicalise this issue. But BJP and its supporters need to - Why because next year is 2019.
Let the SC decide whom the disputed land belongs to- Why you can't wait llike the minorities???
in the other hand you got full mandate in State as well as in Centre. Why you didn't take action in these 4 and half years like your govt has done for minorities issues like tripple talak, removal of subsidy to haj pilgrimage, etc etc?? and changing the islamic names of cities etc??
Dear Sir - Why now a days you are poking your nose in all political and religious issues!!!!
Being a Hindu, I wont recommend to build such building which is not going help anybody in physical world. Instead of that, build as many as houses for homeless poor people. give jobs to educated as well as uneducated people (not pakoda making)
Dont be religious blind man. or dont act like blind. We all know you took initiative for the Ram Temple. But this is not the time to buit such a useless structure. Modi already wasted crores and again going to waste crores for statues
Dear seer, we respect you. But this trick wont work among us. Do atleast somewthing for poor people. Help people. Temple wont cure diseases and wont fill empty stomach
we will not support you, get los. do you think you are the manager of god.
do you think your god will be happy afetr building temple in this destruction place!!!
what harmony you talking about, do you think hindu can live peacefully after destroying muslim in india. this is your dream. never test the patient of LIONS, number of D@gs does not effect the lion.
28 yesr passed still you cant build, just forget it and move on..
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