ED conducts fresh searches in MUDA case in Karnataka, builder’s home is raided

Last updated:Oct 28, 2024 11:16 IST

The ED also raided the office and residence of builder Manjunath’s office in connection with the MUDA case, in which Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has been charged.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (PTI file)

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted fresh searches in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA)-linked money laundering case in which it has booked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The ED also raided the office of a builder linked to the MUDA case. Builder Manjunath’s house and office were raided by ED officials on Monday. Other raids are currently underway in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya. Around seven eight properties in Bengaluru and Mysuru have been seized, official sources told news agency PTI.

The federal agency had conducted the first round of raids in the case on October 18 when it searched the MUDA office in Mysuru and some other locations.

Last week, some lower-level officials of the MUDA were also questioned at its zonal office in Bengaluru.

The ED has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) seeking notice of the CM and others taking cognizance of a Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah is facing Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 locations to his wife by the MUDA.

Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi BM, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju – from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy bought land and gifted it to Parvathi – and others have been named by the two investigating agencies as other suspects in the case.

Parvathi was recently questioned by the Lokayukta.

In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that 14 compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru (Vijayanagar Layout 3rd and 4th phases) which had a higher property value as compared to the site of her land that had been “taken over” by MUDA.

The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio in lieu of 3.16 acres of its land, where it developed a residential layout. Under the controversial plan, MUDA allotted 50 percent of the developed land to the land losers in lieu of vacant land acquired from them for forming housing schemes.

It is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 hectare land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk. After the controversy broke out, Parvathi had announced that she would return the allotted plots to MUDA.

(with PTI inputs)