A Bengaluru court has on Wednesday ordered to the Lokayukta police to probe Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding allegations of a lack of transparency in the allotment of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites. The investigation was commanded by a Special Court judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, just one day following an appeal to the Karnataka High Court confirmed governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s permission for an investigation into the issue.
The court issued orders to conduct an investigation under Section of 156 (3) in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) (that allows magistrates the authority to conduct an investigation into a cognisable crime.) The court ordered officers of the Lokayukta police to submit the report of investigation by the 24th of December.
The chief minister claimed he didn’t fear an investigation.
“Already I’ve stated that I’m ready to stand up to an investigation. I’m not scared of being investigated,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. “I am up to fight legal. I made this statement yesterday, and I’m repeating the same today.”
Siddaramaiah’s petition against the governor’s order approving an investigation under section 17A under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act 1988. The governor’s decision was a the wake of complaints made from militants Pradeep Kumar S P, T J Abraham along with Snehamayi Krishna, who accuse Siddaramaiah of profiting from the illegal allocation of lucrative MUDA plots.
Original Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/muda-case-karnataka-lokayukta-to-probe-charges-against-cm-siddaramaiah-101727254401272.html
In the decision in the case, the single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna noted that governors generally act upon the guidance given by the Council of Ministers under Article 163 of the Constitution but exceptions may be granted in specific circumstances. Justice Nagaprasanna deemed this case an exception to the rule that governor’s decision to make an independent choice was justifiable.
