The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 92 immovable properties having market value of approximately Rs 100 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case in which Karnataka Chief Minister is named as accused number one.

The official statement released by the ED on Tuesday stated, “It is pertinent to mention here that the attachment of these 92 MUDA sites is in continuation to the previous attachment of 160 MUDA sites having a market value of approximately Rs 300 crore. The cumulative market value of Proceeds of Crime provisionally attached so far is approximately Rs 400 crore.” The ED stated that the attached properties are registered in the name of an entity, such as a housing cooperative society and individuals who are front/dummy for influential persons, including MUDA officials.

The agency initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Lokayuktha Police, Mysuru under various sections of IPC, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others, who is the incumbent Chief Minister of Karnataka, the ED stated. The ED investigation revealed a large-scale scam in allotment of MUDA sites by flouting various statutes and government orders/ guidelines, and also by other fraudulent means.

The role of ex-MUDA commissioners, including G.T. Dinesh Kumar, has emerged as instrumental in illegal allotment of compensation sites to ineligible entities/individuals, the ED stated. The evidence with respect to obtaining bribes for making illegal allotments in the form of cash, bank transfer, movable/ immovable properties has been gathered during the course of the investigation, the ED said. The modus operandi for making illegal allotment involved identification of ineligible beneficiaries and making allotment using fake documents/incomplete documents in direct violation of government orders, and also backdating of allotment letters in some cases, the ED stated.

The gratification received for making these illegal allotments was routed through a co-operative society and bank accounts of the relatives/associates of the officers playing a key role in the allotment process. The gratification thus received was further used to purchase some of these illegally allotted MUDA sites in the name of relatives of MUDA officers, the ED stated. Further investigation is in progress.

–IANS

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The post MUDA Case: ED Attaches 92 Immovable Properties Worth ₹100 Crore In Karnataka appeared first on The Commune.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case allegedly involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. On 28 October 2024, the ED obtained crucial documents from an RTI activist from Mysuru, Gangaraju. Meanwhile, the complainant in the MUDA case, Snehamayi Krishna, has submitted purported video evidence to the Additional Director of the ED, Bengaluru, Murali Kannan, linked to the case.

RTI activist Gangaraju, while speaking to the media on 28 October 2024, claimed that he has substantial and crucial information regarding the CM’s involvement in the MUDA case, and the ED has asked him to provide the documents and information. Gangaraju had also filed a complaint with the ED alleging illegal allotment of sites by MUDA to CM Siddaramaiah’s wife. Gangaraju had also complained of intimidation and harassment by strangers after he raised his voice against the CM.

“I am handing over 4,200 pages of documents to the ED. Based on my video, the ED is conducting raids on a realtor and builder named N. Manjunath,” Gangaraju stated.

Meanwhile, Snehamayi Krishna, in his written submission, stated, “I respectfully request that your office has rightly undertaken an enquiry based on the complaint I have submitted regarding illegal financial transactions at the MUDA.”

“Recently, I obtained a video wherein it is clearly visible that bundles of cash are being counted in the back seat of a vehicle, while in a conversation a sum of ₹25 lakh is mentioned explicitly. As per the information, the individual handling the cash is an assistant of one N. Manjunath (builder), and the video pertains to the money received by one Shivanna on behalf of Manjunath. In this video, Manjunath has reportedly handed over the settlement deed to Shivanna,” the submission stated.

“As mentioned in the deed, Manjunath resides in Dollars Colony, J.P. Nagar in Bengaluru. I request you to summon him to your office, review the video, conduct an enquiry, and gather the details regarding Manjunath’s transactions with the MUDA in 50:50 ratio allotments,” Snehamayi Krishna stated.

He has also provided a set of questions and demanded a probe into whether the plots were distributed to officials and staff. The ED sleuths began simultaneous raids in multiple locations in Bengaluru and Mysuru on 28 October in connection with the MUDA case. According to sources, simultaneous raids are underway at nine locations in Bengaluru and Mysuru cities.

The ED has targeted the offices and residences of MUDA officers and builders. The ED sleuths have raided a builder’s residence in upscale Dollar’s Colony in J.P. Nagar locality in Bengaluru and carried out search and inspection there.

-IANS

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The post RTI Activist & Complainant Present Key Evidence As Investigations Expands In MUDA Case Involving CM Siddaramaiah appeared first on The Commune.

Slamming the opposition for demanding his resignation, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that he is not guilty as the court has only ordered a probe into the controversial MUDA case.

“Kumaraswamy is on bail. Did anyone ask for his resignation? The court has only directed an inquiry into the MUDA case that does not mean that I am guilty,” said the Chief Minister while addressing a press conference at his home office ‘Krishna’ in Bengaluru. He added that the court has given the verdict under 17 (A) of the PC Act, adding that the matter has been handed over to the investigation. “Won’t moral standards apply to Kumaraswamy? He is with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. Why don’t you (media) ask him? At this stage only an inquiry has been ordered against me. Why do you ask for a resignation at this stage? We will tackle it politically as it is a conspiracy,” the Chief Minister said. He said that the development would be challenged politically and legally, adding that the court has totally rejected the demand of the petitioners under the BNSS Section 218.

He said that earlier, the Governor had rejected the petitioner’s demand of giving sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act. “I am not afraid of conspiracy of the BJP and JD-S. The people of Karnataka are with our party and they are with me. It’s not possible to dislodge our government through money power and Operation Lotus. They succeeded in 2008 and 2019. This time, the people of Karnataka have given us absolute majority to Congress. We have 136 MLAs on our side,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that the conspiracy was hatched at the national level and they succeeded in sending some Chief Ministers to jail. “It is not possible in Karnataka. People are standing with us like a rock. All party MLAs, MPs, MLCs, ministers and high command are with me,” said the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that BJP and JD-S are conspiring against the state government. “We won’t budge. All party leaders and the government stand with the Chief Minister. We won’t budge to any pressure,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Earlier, the Karnataka High Court while quashing Siddaramaiah’s petition said the beneficiaries in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case were not outsiders but the petitioner’s wife. The bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order upholding Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision. The order of the High Court stated, “The facts narrated in the petition would undoubtedly require an investigation. In the teeth of the fact that the beneficiary of all these acts is not anybody outside, but the wife of the petitioner (CM Siddaramaiah).”

The order stated, “The complaints were justified in registering the complaint or seeking approval at the hands of the Governor.” Social activists Pradeep Kumar SP, T.J. Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna had filed petitions against CM Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDA land scam. They had claimed that Siddaramaiah had misused his office to create fraudulent documents over 3.17 acres of land near Mysuru city and got 14 sites allotted from the MUDA in the name of his wife.

–IANS

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The post I Am Not Guilty, Court Only Ordered Probe: Siddaramaiah appeared first on The Commune.