Row Over MUDA Scam Intensifies In Karnataka As BJP Leaders Detained On 'Way to Protest', CM Siddaramaiah Claims Conspiracy

Several BJP leaders including the party’s Karnataka unit chief B Y Vijayendra were detained on Friday when they were on their way to Mysuru to stage a protest against the alleged fraudulent activities of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Vijayendra and other BJP leaders were whisked away in a bus on the Mysuru Road shortly before they were scheduled to attend a protest rally.

The MUDA scam case pertains to the government’s fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers. It also involves plots given to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife.

What Is MUDA Land Scam?

The Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam relates to the allegations of irregularities in site allotment by the MUDA involving land losses amounting to thousands of crores of rupees. The controversy intensified with the claims that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, benefited from these irregularities.

The MUDA allegedly allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.

The controversial scheme envisages allotting 50 per cent of developed land to the person losing the property instead of undeveloped land acquired for forming layouts.

Siddaramaiah’s Defence

Denying the allegations, Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged that he was unnecessarily being targeted in the case.

Claiming that a conspiracy is being hatched against him out of heartburn as he belongs to a backward class community and has become the Chief Minister for a second time, Siddarmaiaah had asserted that he won’t fear such moves by the BJP.

Siddaramaiah’s Defence is ‘Dishonest’, Says BJP

BJP leader CT Ravi termed as “dishonest” Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s defence in connection with alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA.

The MLC also alleged that the CM seems to be “recklessly defending the corruption.”

“The Chief Minister’s conduct in response to allegations of MUDA sites is of intelligent defence and not honesty. This is a case involving CM’s wife, the allegation is against CM and his wife,” Ravi said.

CM Rejects BJP’s Demand for CBI Probe

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday rejected the BJP’s demand for a CBI probe into the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites by MUDA.

He accused the BJP of politicising a “non-issue.” The Chief Minister was reacting to BJP state President B Y Vijayendra announcing earlier in the day that a “mega” protest would be staged in Mysuru — Siddaramaiah’s home district — on July 12 in connection with the alleged “scam”.

BJP Stages Massive Protest, Leaders Detained

Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra and several other party leaders were detained here on Friday when they were on their way to Mysuru to stage a protest against the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, which involves plots given to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife.

They were scheduled to attend a protest rally in Mysuru — the Chief Minister’s home district- and lay a siege to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) office there.