The Karnataka Lokayukta office.
Credit: DH Photo
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Lokayukta police to continue the investigation into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) alternative sites allotment case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvaty BM and others.
Justice M Nagaprasanna gave this direction during the hearing of the petition filed seeking CBI probe into the case.
“In the circumstances, I deem it appropriate to direct the Lokayukta to place the records of investigation from December 19, 2024 till today. The investigation by the Lokayukta police shall continue. The investigation conducted by the Lokayukta police will be overseen by the IGP of the Lokayukta and the report, if any, that is to be filed by the next date shall also be perused by the ADGP of the Lokayukta and the report, final or otherwise, shall be placed before this court on the next date for its perusal,” the court said, while adjourning the matter to January 27.
Meanwhile, the court asked the parties to exchange their responses/ objections by the next date of hearing. On December 19, 2024, the high court had extended the time granted by special court for cases involving MP/MLAs to January 28, 2025 for submission of the investigation report by the Lokayukta police.
The court was hearing the petition filed by one of the complainants in the case Snehamayi Krishna. At the hearing, senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Krishna, said that the files pertaining to the case were taken by a committee headed by an IAS officer, even though the probe was entrusted to the Lokayukta police. He said this amplifies the petitioner's apprehension that a fair investigation is not possible from an agency working under the state government.
The petitioner Snehamayi Krishna has contended that that an impartial investigation is not possible since Siddaramaiah, being the Chief Minister of the state, wields immense power and influence over the state departments, especially the state investigating agencies such as the police authorities and the Karnataka Lokayukta police. He has also filed an interlocutory application (IA) seeking to add the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) as a party-respondent in the main petition.