Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pressuring the Karnataka Governor to initiate prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Raut, whose party is part of the INDIA coalition with the Congress, supported Siddaramaiah and criticized the BJP for targeting the Chief Minister based on his political affiliation, as reported by ANI.
Raut, speaking to ANI, expressed his concerns about the BJP’s alleged interference in the legal proceedings against Siddaramaiah. He mentioned, “The party in which the corrupt from all over the country get royal shelter wants to prosecute the CM of Karnataka because it has a Congress government, it is pressuring the Governor for the same. You jailed the CMs of Delhi and Jharkhand. The people snatched your majority, and you are still not learning. What kind of mischief is this?”
Furthermore, Raut questioned the BJP’s selective approach towards corruption cases in Karnataka, pointing out the lack of action against former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. He emphasized, “Why was Yediyurappa released? He has all kinds of corruption cases against him. First, they should act against Yediyurappa and then speak of justice or injustice with Siddaramaiah.”
In a related development, the Karnataka government has withdrawn its open consent for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct investigations in the state. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar explained that this decision was made to prevent potential misuse of power by the CBI. Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil echoed similar sentiments, alleging bias and inefficiency on the part of the investigative agency in handling cases referred by the state.
Shivakumar elaborated on the rationale behind withdrawing consent for CBI investigations, stating, “We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigation in the state. We are expressing our concerns about the misuse of the CBI. In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed charge sheets, leaving many cases pending. They have also refused to investigate several cases we have sent. There are numerous such instances. They are biased. That’s why we are taking the decision. It’s not because of the MUDA case. We have taken this decision to control them (CBI) from taking the wrong path.”
In light of recent developments, a Special Court in Bengaluru has ordered an investigation into suspected irregularities in the allotment of sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This verdict adds a new dimension to the ongoing controversy surrounding the MUDA scam case and raises questions about political interference in the legal process.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the allegations and counter-allegations between political parties will impact the legal proceedings and accountability in the MUDA scam case. The withdrawal of consent for CBI investigations by the Karnataka government further complicates the matter and underscores the challenges of ensuring impartial and effective governance in the face of corruption allegations.
