Karnataka Health Minister Blasts Governor Over Probe Sanction Against CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao criticized Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for permitting prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a corruption case. Gundurao accused BJP's BY Vijayendra of deep-rooted corruption and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy of conspiring. Protests ensued, with High Court deferring trial actions.

On Monday, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao sharply criticized Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for granting prosecution sanction against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in an alleged corruption case involving a land allotment to Siddaramaiah's wife by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. Gundurao demanded that the governor leave Karnataka, warning that Congress would resist his action. He also targeted BJP state president BY Vijayendra and JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Gundurao accused BY Vijayendra of being deeply entrenched in corruption, claiming that he has effectively earned a 'PhD in corruption.' He further alleged that Kumaraswamy possesses 'blackmail skills' and has conspired by aligning with a 'group of thieves.' According to Gundurao, corruption and Vijayendra are inseparable, criticizing those who 'were born and grew up in corruption' for commenting on the issue.

In reaction to the governor's decision, Karnataka Congress organized protests at Freedom Park in Bengaluru and across all district centers in the state on Monday. Concurrently, the Karnataka High Court instructed the trial court concerned not to take any precipitative action against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah based on the governor's sanction until the next hearing date.

A bench led by Justice M Nagaprasanna scheduled the hearing for August 29, considering Siddaramaiah's plea challenging the governor's prosecution sanction over the MUDA land allotment scam. The High Court emphasized that any trial court order allowing prosecution against Siddaramaiah would undermine ongoing proceedings and ruled that trial actions be deferred until the next hearing before the High Court.