Bengaluru: In a major development that could severely dent the credibility of the Congress-led Karnataka government, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 92 immovable properties worth Rs 100 crore in connection with the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) scam, casting a long shadow over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is one of the key individuals named in the FIR filed by Lokayukta Police.
The ED’s action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 comes as a massive indictment of the state administration and intensifies scrutiny over the Siddaramaiah-led government’s role in what is now being described as one of the largest urban land scams in the state’s recent history.
ED confirms massive corruption, links Siddaramaiah to scam
According to the ED’s official press release and its post on X (formerly Twitter), the properties attached include illegal site allocations, many of which are registered in the names of influential individuals, housing cooperative societies, and senior MUDA officials. Crucially, the ED stated that this was part of a “cumulative scam involving CM Siddaramaiah and others.”
“ED, Bangalore has provisionally attached 92 immovable properties (MUDA sites) having market value of Rs. 100 Crore (approx.) on 09/06/2025 under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, in connection with MUDA Scam case matter related to Siddaramaiah and others having cumulative…” – @dir_ed
The Lokayukta Police FIR, which triggered the investigation, alleges that the scam involved illegal site distributions, bribe-taking, and fraudulent land conversion, all orchestrated with the connivance of top-level MUDA officials — and allegedly, with the tacit approval of top political leadership, including the current Chief Minister.
Kickbacks in the form of land, cash, and bank transfers
The ED’s probe revealed that former MUDA Commissioner G.T. Dinesh Kumar and others were instrumental in executing the scam. The investigation has uncovered kickbacks in the form of direct cash payments, bank transfers, and land parcels illegally distributed to individuals close to those in power.
This includes allegations of “bribes being routed via shell entities and cooperative societies” which were allegedly linked to people within Siddaramaiah’s political and administrative circles.
The ED said it has collected documents, transaction trails, and beneficiary statements that point to a deliberate and organized scheme of corruption, wherein MUDA sites — meant for the economically weaker sections and public development — were diverted to private beneficiaries at throwaway prices or in return for favors.
Growing calls for CM’s resignation
The opposition BJP has seized upon the ED’s findings to mount a relentless attack on Siddaramaiah, calling the development “proof of systematic loot under Congress rule.”
“This is not just a scandal, it is a betrayal of the people of Karnataka. The Chief Minister has lost the moral right to continue in office. The ED has named him in its probe — he must resign,” said BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra, demanding a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge.
Adding to the political firestorm, multiple whistleblowers within MUDA are reportedly cooperating with central agencies, revealing long-standing patterns of land misallocation, fraudulent backdated documents, and insider access to land banks.
“Cosmic corruption”: A systemic breakdown
The ED described the nature of the MUDA scam as “cosmic corruption,” a term that underscores the depth, spread, and financial impact of the malpractice. What makes this scandal particularly damaging is that the allegations date back to the period when Siddaramaiah was handling urban development portfolios during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister — suggesting that the rot wasn’t recent but entrenched and systemic.
This latest development adds to a growing list of corruption charges that have plagued the current Congress regime — from irregularities in temple funds to maladministration in urban infrastructure projects.
Silence from Congress as pressure builds
Notably, the Chief Minister’s Office has not issued any official statement in response to the ED’s revelations, even as media outlets, opposition parties, and civil society groups continue to raise questions about transparency, accountability, and abuse of executive power.
Political observers say that Siddaramaiah’s continued silence may damage the party’s credibility ahead of the upcoming BBMP and panchayat elections. “The Congress came to power promising clean governance. This scandal contradicts everything they stood for,” said a political science lecturer of Bangalore University.
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