Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil Criticizes ED Over MUDA Land Case Involving CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 1: Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday regarding the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allocation case. The minister stated that the ED’s case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be a significant mistake.
Patil expressed his shock and surprise at how the MUDA case could be considered a money laundering issue. He questioned, “Where is the money? Almost decades have passed since the allotment of the site. If they are taking cases of this category, I don’t know how they will justify it. It will be one of the greatest blunders that the ED will be doing if they are going on that path.”
Regarding the Chief Minister’s wife offering to return the plots to the MUDA authorities, Patil said she made the “right decision” out of concern for her husband’s honor. “The way the Chief Minister’s wife has reacted and returned the site because she is concerned for her husband’s honor. It is the right decision that she has taken and this will clear all the clouds that are in the public’s mind,” he said.
Earlier today, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara also criticized the ED’s involvement in the MUDA land allocation case and questioned the registration of a case under the PMLA despite the absence of any “financial transactions.”
On Monday, after the ED booked Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for money laundering in a case linked to the alleged MUDA land allotment scam, his wife wrote to the MUDA Commissioner and offered to surrender the 14 plots that were allotted to her by the authority.
Meanwhile, the Mysuru Lokayukta officially started the inquiry and investigation into the case linked to the MUDA land allotment scam today, following a September 27 court order to file an FIR, directing them to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the MUDA.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka Law Minister -: The Karnataka Law Minister is a government official in the Indian state of Karnataka who is responsible for legal affairs and the justice system.
HK Patil -: HK Patil is a politician in Karnataka who is currently serving as the Law Minister.
ED -: ED stands for Enforcement Directorate, which is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering.
MUDA -: MUDA stands for Mysore Urban Development Authority, which is responsible for planning and development in the city of Mysore.
CM Siddaramaiah -: CM Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister of Karnataka, which means he is the head of the state government.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) -: The Prevention of Money Laundering Act is a law in India that aims to prevent money laundering and to provide for the confiscation of property derived from money laundering.
blunder -: A blunder is a big mistake.
Mysuru Lokayukta -: The Mysuru Lokayukta is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in the city of Mysore that investigates complaints against public officials.
inquiry -: An inquiry is an official investigation to find out the facts about something.
court order -: A court order is a legal decision made by a judge that must be followed.