Bengaluru: Social activist TJ Abraham has once again levelled serious allegations against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, this time in connection with the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, on Friday Abraham claimed that when Siddaramaiah’s family purchased land, it was not designated as agricultural land, raising questions about the legality of the transaction.
Abraham outlined his accusations by highlighting the purchase of 3.16 acres of land in Kesare village, registered in the name of Manjunath Swamy in 2004. According to Abraham, the land was originally part of Devaraj Barangay in 2001, and had been converted into residential plots under that name. He questioned whether it was legal to convert allotted residential plots back into agricultural land for the purpose of sale. “Can land that was once agricultural but had been converted and allotted as residential plots be sold again as agricultural land?” Abraham asked. He also questioned the collection of revenue in the names of the people who had been allotted these plots and suggested that the land might have been illegally converted back to agricultural land.
Abraham further alleged that when the Siddaramaiah family bought the land in 2004, it was not agricultural land, raising doubts about whether the Deputy Commissioner (DC) had personally inspected the site. He questioned whether Siddaramaiah, who was Deputy Chief Minister at the time, used his influence in the transaction and during the subsequent denotification of the land. Abraham pointed out that in 2010, when a gift deed was executed, the land was still registered as agricultural, even though it had been developed into plots in 2001. He also alleged that the Siddaramaiah family sought compensation for land that no longer existed as agricultural land, asking if such actions would be possible for ordinary citizens.
In response to the allegations, Abraham stated that he had not contacted any politicians regarding the case and had taken his concerns directly to the Governor. He noted that Siddaramaiah had taken a cabinet decision on the matter and written a letter to the Governor, defending himself by saying that being accused does not automatically mean one is guilty. “A charge is true, but a charge does not make it a crime. I have faced each and every one,” Abraham said.
Abraham also criticised Congress leaders for claiming that the actions against the CM were politically motivated and outside the bounds of the law. He mentioned that he had met the Governor according to the state’s legal framework and had provided a detailed presentation, addressing all the Governor’s queries. Abraham questioned whether the legal ministers had even reviewed the relevant documents and asked what he might have missed in his presentation.
Drawing parallels to previous cases, it may be recalled that similar allegations of illegal denotifications were made against former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. In 2011, lawyer Sirajin Basha had submitted a petition to the Governor seeking permission for Yediyurappa’s prosecution, leading to the then-Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj granting permission against the advice of the state cabinet. It is noted that a similar situation could arise in Siddaramaiah’s case, depending on how current Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot decides to proceed.
In a 2004 Supreme Court ruling that stated the Governor should generally act on the advice of the Council of Ministers but could exercise discretion in certain cases. In the current scenario mirrors the past, where despite the cabinet’s opposition, the Governor allowed the prosecution of a sitting Chief Minister.
As the political tension rises, all eyes are on Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who has issued a show-cause notice to CM Siddaramaiah. The Congress government is reportedly strategizing its next move, with the outcome potentially impacting the stability of the state administration. The situation has caused significant unease within the Congress party, as they brace for what could be a pivotal moment in Karnataka’s political landscape.
