Social activist Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, has now lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in the case.
He has also approached the High Court of Karnataka seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the case.
This comes amid rising tensions between the Congress, which is ruling the State, and the BJP, which is the principal party in the NDA government at the Centre.
The Congress has accused the BJP of misusing Central agencies and the Governor’s office to “topple an elected government”. Sources close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the possible entry of Central agencies into the probe as a sign of “mounting troubles”.
It may be recalled that the Lokayukta police have already registered an FIR against Mr. Siddaramaiah, his wife, Parvathi B.M., and two others, based on a complaint by Mr. Krishna.
However, expressing apprehensions that an investigation by the Lokayukta police functioning under the purview of the State government and the Chief Minister could have an influence over the machinery, Mr. Krishna is now seeking parallel probes by CBI and ED.
While the CBI needs to be assigned the case either by the High Court or the State government, no such permission is required for the ED to launch a probe into the case. The ED can launch a probe into any case where a scheduled offence of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 is made out in a prior FIR.
Mr. Krishna, in his complaint mailed to Deputy Director, ED, Bengaluru on September 27, contended that Mr. Siddaramaiah’s wife had “illegally” made a gain to the tune of ₹55.80 crore through the irregularities in the allotment of sites by MUDA, which he said related to “scheduled offences” under PMLA, 2002.
Meanwhile, Mr. Siddaramaiah asserted in Mysuru that he could not be intimidated by political challenges and expressed confidence that he would surmount them all. He said he was confident of facing and overcoming any hurdles, both legally and politically, though his political opponents may try to cause trouble for a few months. “But my conscience is clear and I remain unshaken by any attempt to bring political pressure on me,” he added.
FIR against Snehamayi Krishna
Meanwhile, it has now emerged that Mr. Snehamayi Krishna has been booked as accused number 4 in an FIR registered by the Nanjangud town police station for alleged assault, criminal intimidation, and insulting the modesty of a woman.
A 30-year-old woman has lodged a complaint against four persons, including Mr. Krishna, and the Nanjangud town police station has booked them under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) 2023 on August 21, 2024.
When the FIR issue against Mr. Krishna was brought to Mr. Siddaramaiah’s notice, the Chief Minister said he had never seen the person.
Published - September 29, 2024 05:47 pm IST