Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into the massive Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) scam, taking former MUDA Commissioner GT Dinesh Kumar into custody after a day-long interrogation at his Shanthinagar office. What began as a straightforward corruption investigation has now turned into a political storm, with mounting accusations that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his close family members directly benefited from the multi-crore illegal site allocation racket.
According to sources, Dinesh Kumar arrived at the ED office on September 16 following summons in connection with the scam. After hours of questioning, officials placed him under custody, citing crucial evidence of his involvement in fabricating documents, manipulating site allocations, and amassing illegal wealth. Investigators claim to have uncovered a document trail proving that he not only received huge sums of money but also acquired properties through benami deals.
ED has already invoked the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against him, and searches conducted last October at his Banaswadi residence reportedly yielded incriminating documents. Significantly, at the time of the raids, Dinesh Kumar had “conveniently” taken a flight out of Bengaluru, raising suspicions of tip-offs from political higher-ups.
Siddaramaiah’s selective green signal
The controversy deepened after it emerged that the state government gave permission only to probe Dinesh Kumar, while conveniently shielding former MUDA chairman H.V. Rajeev, who is known to share close ties with the ruling dispensation. Lokayukta police had specifically sought sanction to investigate both Rajeev and Dinesh, but Siddaramaiah’s government allowed only one name to be scrutinised.
Opposition leaders allege this is a classic case of “scapegoat politics”, where the bureaucrat is being thrown under the bus while political beneficiaries of the scam escape accountability.
The 50:50 site scam and Parvati’s name
The Muda scam, which revolves around the 50:50 ratio of site allocations, is estimated to have caused losses of hundreds of crores to the exchequer. During his tenure as MUDA Commissioner in 2022, Dinesh allegedly ensured illegal redistribution of prime plots in collusion with vested interests.
The scam took a sensational turn when allegations surfaced that CM Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvati, was allotted 14 replacement plots worth several crores. Critics argue that this direct link to the Chief Minister’s family makes it impossible to treat the issue as an isolated case of bureaucratic corruption. “This is not just Dinesh Kumar’s doing. The chain leads right up to the Chief Minister’s doorstep,” a senior opposition leader told reporters.
When allegations first surfaced, the Siddaramaiah government quickly transferred Dinesh Kumar out of MUDA and attempted to rehabilitate him as the Registrar of Haveri University. The move triggered a public outcry, with critics accusing the government of rewarding a tainted officer. Under mounting pressure, the transfer order was cancelled, and Dinesh was later suspended.
Even this suspension, however, is seen by many as a mere eyewash. “The government tried every trick to shield him until the matter went out of their control. Now that the ED has stepped in, Siddaramaiah is washing his hands off,” said BJP leader R. Ashoka, demanding a full-scale probe into the CM’s family role in the scandal.
Delay tactics and judicial displeasure
The Karnataka High Court has already expressed displeasure over the unexplained six-month delay in granting prosecution sanction in the MUDA case. Legal experts say the delay reflects deliberate stalling by the state government, which fears the probe might directly implicate the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, citizens linked to the scam, including Snehamayi Krishna, have approached the High Court, complaining of humiliation and mental harassment due to selective actions of the Lokayukta police. This has further fueled perceptions of Opposition mounts pressure a politically motivated cover-up.
Opposition mounts pressure
The BJP and JD(S) have accused Siddaramaiah of presiding over one of the biggest land scams in recent years. “The MUDA scam is not just about land, it is about institutionalized corruption under Siddaramaiah. His wife’s name has been directly linked, and his government has stonewalled every attempt at an impartial probe. This is nothing short of betrayal of the people of Karnataka,” thundered former Deputy CM Dr Ashwath Narayan.
Senior BJP leaders are now preparing to escalate the issue both inside the Assembly and on the streets. They have demanded that the ED widen its investigation to include the CM’s office and family members, warning that any attempt to restrict the probe will be viewed as obstruction of justice.
