Governor Sanctions Prosecution of Karnataka CM in MUDA Scam, Sparks Political Tug-of-War

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has granted permission for the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority site allotment scam. This move has intensified political tensions, with Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar denouncing the Governor's decision and vowing to fight it legally and politically.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday granted sanction for the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam', dealing a significant blow to the nearly 15-month-old Congress government.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, denounced the Governor's action and vowed to contest the move both politically and legally. Governor Gehlot accorded permission under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

The Governor's sanction opens the door for law enforcement agencies to investigate allegations against the Chief Minister. The MUDA 'scam' involves allegations that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in a prime location in Mysuru, which activists claim had no legal basis. BJP leaders claim the scam's magnitude is between Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore.