Karnataka High Court stays further probe by Lokayukta in MUDA scam

The Karnataka High Court Thursday restrained the Mysuru Lokayukta police from conducting any further investigation against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his co-accused in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. .The Court also directed that the time for the Lokayukta police to submit its final probe report before the trial court shall stand extended till January 28, 2025. Justice M Nagaprasanna said the Lokayukta must refrain from conducting further investigation in the case until the High Court completes the final hearing on a petition seeking a CBI probe into the scam..The High Court passed the directions while hearing a petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna, an activist and one of the three complainants in the Muda scam, seeking a probe by CBI into the alleged scam.Senior Advocate KG Raghavan, appearing for Krishna, had earlier told the Court that the Lokayukta, since it comes under the State government, might not be able to ensure a fair probe in the case involving the Chief Minister..On Thursday, counsel for all parties informed the Court that the respondents including Siddaramaiah and wife had been served the notices issued by the Court.The Court then said it will hear final arguments on Krishna’s plea on January 15, 2025.It noted that the special court in Bengaluru, which had directed the Lokayukta to probe the alleged scam in September this year, had asked for a final report by December 24 this year. However, since the High Court is now hearing a petition seeking CBI probe, such submission of report before the trial court should be halted temporarily, the single-judge said..“This Court will not permit a district court to secure report and pass orders when the matter is being heard by this Court. To protect proceedings pending before this Court, I deem it appropriate to extend the time granted to file the final report,” Justice Nagaprasanna stated.He accordingly said the time granted to the Lokayukta to file the final report will stand extended from December 24 this year to January 28, 2025..Krishna has also sought the Court’s permission to implead the Enforcement Directorate as a party in the case.However, on Thursday, Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the Karnataka government and Siddaramaiah, respectively, objected to the request.The Court then directed them to file their objections by January 15..In September this year, Justice Nagaprasanna had dismissed a plea filed by Siddaramaiah challenging the sanction granted by the Governor to file corruption cases against the Chief Minister over land that MUDA granted to his wife Parvathi.Subsequently, the Karnataka Lokayukta had filed an FIR against Siddaramaiah and three others on charges of corruption, cheating and forgery in connection with the MUDA site allotment.