Basavaraj Bommai Demands CBI Probe into MUDA Site Allocation Scandal

Gadag (Karnataka) [India], July 13: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai has called for a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities in the MUDA site allocations. He questioned why Congress leaders are hesitant if they have nothing to hide.

Speaking to reporters, Bommai said, “If there was no scandal in the MUDA site allocations and no truth to the allegations, such a major controversy would not have come to the fore. Why should there be any hesitation in investigation through an independent agency if there is nothing to hide?”

Bommai emphasized the difference between an inquiry and an investigation, stating that the MUDA scam should be subjected to a thorough investigation. He called for a complete inquiry into which exchange sites are in MUDA, under what circumstances, and to whom the sites were allocated. He insisted that the case should be handed over to the CBI.

He pointed out, “The media has clearly shown the details of this scandal. Let Chief Minister Siddaramaiah say what he wants regarding this issue, but there has been a clear violation of the law concerning which sites should be obtained in which layouts. Party leaders have read and explained the legal violations. 50:50 allocations should be made in certain layouts, but this has not been followed. On the prima facie, the rule violation is evident. The question remains about the circumstances and methods of how the sites were obtained.”

Regarding the arrest of former minister B. Nagendra in the Valmiki Corporation scam, Bommai said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting the investigation. “Initially, former minister Nagendra was given a clean chit, but now his involvement is evident, and he has been arrested. The MLA and corporation chairman, Basangouda Daddal, was also said to be not involved, but now that has been proven otherwise. The deeper they dig into this case, the more details emerge. The financial department’s role will become clear in the coming days. The ED will continue its investigation.”

On the tourism department scam, Bommai stated that “he had no information about it.”