Case published on November 26

Bengaluru/Mysuru: He Karnataka High Court This morning ordered the Mysuru Police Lokayukta to submit a progress report on its ongoing investigation into the allotment of 14 sites in Vijayanagar by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, B.M. Parvathi, as compensation for her 3.16 acre land in Kesare. .

The directive came during a hearing on a petition by social activist Snehamayi Krishna, who is seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case. Krishna filed the petition on September 27.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna directed the Lokayukta police to submit its findings by November 26, the date of the next hearing.

The Court has specifically asked the Lokayukta to present the progress of the investigation made up to November 24.

The Court also issued notices to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, other co-accused (CM’s wife Parvathi, brother-in-law BM Mallikarjunaswamy and landowner J. Devaraju) and the Union and state governments, seeking their responses. to the call of the petition for a CBI Investigation.

In her presentation, Snehamayi Krishna expressed concern that the Lokayukta, being a state-controlled body, could not carry out an impartial investigation since the case involves the CM.

Senior advocate KG Raghavan, representing Krishna, argued that the investigation should be handled in a manner that fosters public confidence, expressing skepticism about the Lokayukta’s ability to ensure impartiality.

Raghavan further highlighted the petitioner’s contention that Siddaramaiah, as acting Chief Minister, has considerable influence over State departments and investigative agencies like police and Lokayukta.

“Given these circumstances, any investigation by these agencies could lack impartiality,” Snehamayi Krishna said, pointing to Siddaramaiah’s statements affirming the support of his party high command and his ministerial colleagues in the matter, a position widely covered in the media reports.

Advocate Raghavan argued that institutional integrity is crucial when investigating constitutional officials, as confirmed by the Supreme Court in several decisions. He stressed that an investigation into allegations against a sitting Chief Minister requires an agency that is independent and publicly credible.

“The investigation must not only be fair but must also be perceived as fair to restore confidence in the people of Karnataka,” Raghavan argued, underlining the need for transparency and neutrality.