The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm – involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of Rs 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to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state.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 said the move was to red-flag the CBI's "biased" actions.
READ | “CBI Biased”: Karnataka Withdraws Permission To Operate In State
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 said it would open an independent investigation – Siddaramaiah's wife wrote to MUDA officials, saying she had planned to do so earlier but had been advised against surrendering the land as the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".
READ | After Case Against Siddaramaiah, Wife Offers To Return Disputed Land
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, there are some within the Congress – including former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad – who also want him to quit.
"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.
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