Karnataka High Court extends time for Lokayukta police to file probe report till January 28 in MUDA case

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday passed an interim order extending the time granted by the special court for elected representatives to submit the investigation report in the MUDA alternative sites allotment case.

On September 25, 2024, the special court had directed the Lokayukta police to submit the final report by December 24, 2024. Justice M Nagaprasanna extended the time till January 28, 2025.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna, one of the complainants in the case, seeking a CBI probe. He contended 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.

Snehamayi Krishna also filed an interlocutory application (IA) seeking to add the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) as a party-respondent in the main petition. Justice Nagaprasanna also directed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, the state government and other respondents to file their statement of objection to the petition as well as the IA.

Senior advocate Prof Ravivarma Kumar, appearing for Chief Minister’s wife, submitted that the court should allow the Lokayukta police to submit their report, in terms of the order passed by the special court. He submitted that there is no prayer in the petition to interject the proceedings before the special court and that the high court always has power to pass orders.

Justice Nagaprasanna said that while the high court always got the power to pass necessary orders, including further investigation, the proceedings before the high court should not be frustrated. The court also specified that the respondents are required to submit their statements of objection by the next date not hearing and cannot seek time.