Siddaramaiah Questions ED Slapping Money Laundering Case Against Him, Rules Out Resignation

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday questioned the ED slapping a money laundering case against him in the MUDA ‘scam’ and once again ruled out his resignation over the issue.

Siddaramaiah also alleged that his wife Parvathi B M, who decided to relinquish the ownership and possession of 14 plots that was allotted to her by the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority), was a victim of ‘politics of hate’ against him and he was surprised by her move.

Meanwhile, MUDA today decided to take back 14 plots allotted to Parvathi, following her decision to return them.

A team of Lokayukta police probing MUDA site allotment case against Siddaramaiah and others on Tuesday surveyed the land, in lieu of which 14 sites were “illegally” allotted to his wife in Mysuru.

Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) booked Siddaramaiah in a money laundering case, his wife on Monday wrote to MUDA conveying her decision to return the plots stating that no site, home, asset and wealth is bigger for her than her husband’s respect, dignity, honour and peace of mind.

“I don’t know on what grounds it’s a money laundering case. Probably you (reporters) too feel the same. According to me, it does not attract the money laundering case because compensatory sites were given. So, how is it a money-laundering case?” the Chief Minister said here.

The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by police, against the Chief Minister over the alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the MUDA.

Meanwhile, the Lokayukta police team that visited the 3.16 acres land was joined by the special land acquisition officer, surveyors and town planning members from the MUDA, and they surveyed the land and took notes, official sources said.

Social activist Snehamayi Krishna on whose complaint the Lokayukta police has registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife and two others, was also present, they said, adding he also appeared before the Lokayukta police in Mysuru, following the notice issued to him by the investigating officers.

The MUDA has ordered to cancel the sale deed of 14 plots, after Parvathi’s letter conveying her a decision to return them, was personally submitted to MUDA Commissioner A N Raghunandan’s office by her son and MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah this morning, in Mysuru.

“…we have gone through the provisions in our act. There are provisions in our act to take it when given (back) voluntarily,” Raghunandan said.

Addressing reporters, he said, “After consulting panel advocates and the legal officer, and after determining that everything is correct, we arrived at a conclusion. So, we have ordered to take it back. We have ordered to cancel the sale deed and handed it over to the sub-registrar.” The Chief Minister said: “My stand was to fight without bowing down to this injustice but my wife, who is upset with the political conspiracy going on against me, has taken a decision to return these sites, which has surprised me too.” Ruling out the possibility of his resignation, Siddaramaiah said: “I work with conscience. So there is no need for me to resign.” On BJP’s contention that the offer to surrender the sites by his wife amounts to accepting the wrongdoing in the case, the Chief Minister said: “How is it a crime or even a confession when someone decides to discard something saying that they don’t want the controversy? The opposition party leaders are ‘Vishwaguru’ in lies.” “Will the case be closed after I resign? They are unnecessarily demanding my resignation. Why should I resign when I have not committed any wrong?” he asked.

Earlier today, state BJP chief B Y Vijayendra said Parvathi’s decision to surrender the plots amounts to CM’s official acceptance of wrongdoing in the MUDA ‘scam’ and demanded his immediate resignation.

He termed her move a “political drama” and alleged that it was aimed at “escaping from legal hurdles”.

Noting that when Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot approved the investigation based on private complaints against the Chief Minister, the Congress President, Ministers and leaders had levelled allegations that his decision was politically motivated, Vijayendra demanded that before resigning as CM, Siddaramaiah should apologise to the Governor.

He also urged the Home Minister and the Director General of Police to immediately ensure proper police security to Snehamayi Krishna on whose complaint the Lokayukta police has registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife and two others, claiming that there were reports about “conspiracies” against him.

Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday alleged political motive behind the ED case against the Chief Minister, while citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the MUDA case during a recent election rally in poll-bound Haryana. “Our allegation is that there is an intention to destabilise the Congress government here out of political malice.” He said: “Let’s wait and see what happens legally, after his (Siddaramaiah) wife returns sites to MUDA.” Asked whether returning sites means accepting wrongdoing, the Home Minister replied: “no, the reason for returning the sites have been clearly cited…sometimes, though late, decisions will be right.” He also said the Congress party and all 136 MLAs stood by the CM.