ED conducts fresh raids in MUDA case involving Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru/IBNS: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted fresh searches in connection with the money laundering case linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) where Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is allegedly involved, media reports said.
The ED, which has booked Siddaramaiah in connection with the case, conducted the search at the house and office of builder Manjunath.
Raids are also underway in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya.
Earlier in October, two teams of ED raided the offices of MUDA Mysuru Taluk Office in connection with the probe into the alleged land scam.
The ED has registered a case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after taking cognizance of a First Information Report filed by the Lokayukta in connection with the alleged MUDA scam.
Besides Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju, from whom Swamy had purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi, and others have been named in the FIR registered by the Lokayukta police on September 27.
It has been alleged that compensatory sites allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife, located in an upmarket area in Mysuru, are far higher than the land acquired from her by MUDA.
BN Parvathi had written to the authority offering to return the plots of land that are at the heart of the corruption cases against her family.
In a statement, Parvathi said she was obeying the call of her conscience. "Along with returning these plots, I also demand a comprehensive investigation into all allegations related to MUDA," she said.
In her letter to MUDA, Parvathi offered to return the 14 plots allotted to her in Vijayanagar Phase 3 and 4 "in lieu of compensation for the use of 3.16 acre land in Kesare Village.
The MUDA has agreed to take back 14 plots of land.
Siddaramaiah has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the allegations against him are politically motivated.