Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday gave an interim stay on summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife B M Parvathi and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh in connection with the Muda case.
Hearing on the petitions filed by Parvathi and Suresh seeking quashing of summons, the bench headed by Justice M Nagaprasanna stayed the summons while adjourning the next hearing to February 10.
Representing the minister, Senior Advocate C V Nagesh said the ED has issued summons to his client even though he has not at all connected to the case. Further, he said, the summons has come at a time when the minister’s son's marriage is fixed. "The ED action will create a problem for my client. Moreover, the High Court has quashed the summons issued to Muda MD Natesh in the same case. Therefore, the summons issued to the minister should also be cancelled," he argued.
Arguing for Siddaramaiah's wife, advocate Sandesh Chowta said his client has already returned the alternative sites allotted to her by Muda. But still, the ED has issued the summons to her which is illegal. It should be quashed, he said.
Objecting to the arguments, Additional Solicitor General Kamat said under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, ED can issue summons to anyone to collect evidence and documents. "There is no rule that summons should be issued only to the accused," he said.
Following this, the court said the summons issued are to be stayed as it will frustrate the proceedings pending before this court and posted the next hearing on February 10.
High Court Reserves Order
The Karnataka High Court on Monday reserved its judgement on a petition seeking a CBI probe into the Muda case involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife B M Parvathi.
After hearing both the parties representing the CM and the other accused and the petitioner Snehamayi Krishna on Monday at the Dharwad HC bench, Justice M Nagaprasanna reserved his judgement.
Currently, the case is being investigated by the Lokayukta police. But petitioner Krishna expressing no confidence in the Lokayukta police approached the high court seeking transfer of probe into the Muda case to CBI.
He contends that since the Lokayukta police function under the State Government, an impartial enquiry into a case involving the Chief Minister cannot be expected from it.
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