MUDA Scam Hearing Adjourned Till January 27

Justice M Nagaprasanna who heard the petition filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna directed Lokayukta to submit a report on the progress of the investigation.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday adjourned till January 27 the hearing on a petition seeking a CBI probe into the multi-crore illegal site allotment at Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Justice M Nagaprasanna who heard the petition filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna at the Dharwad Bench directed the Lokayukta to submit a report on the progress of the investigation into the case by January 27 and ordered the respondents to file objections by the next hearing.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh appeared for the petitioners while Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and former Karnataka advocate general Ravi Varma Kumar represented Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah's wife, B M Parvathi, is accused of getting 14 sites in an upmarket locality in Mysuru as compensation for her land reportedly acquired by MUDA for developing a residential layout. The petitioner has alleged that using his influence, Siddaramaiah got MUDA to allot plots in the area where property values are much higher than the locality of Paravathi's land acquired by the authority.

Following a high court order, the case is currently being investigated by the Lokayukta who has already interrogated Siddaramaiah, Parvathi, her brother Mallikarjun Swamy and other accused.

Meanwhile, Krishna filed a petition seeking a CBI probe expressing no-confidence in the Lokayukta claiming the latter which functions under the state government cannot do justice to a case involving none other than the Chief Minister.

Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, he said the high court is expected to pronounce its judgement in the next hearing.