Verdict on Siddaramaiah’s plea in Mysuru land ’scam’ case shortly: A timeline

Mangalore Today News Network

Benngaluru, September 24, 2024: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday will pronounce its order on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the legality of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for an investigation against him in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.

The High Court completed its hearing in the case on September 12, and reserved its orders. It had also directed a special court in Bengaluru to defer further proceedings and not to take any precipitative action against the Chief Minister.

The case pertains to allegations that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife B M Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru that had higher property value as compared to the location of her land that had been "acquired" by MUDA.

MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.

TIMELINE OF THE MUDA CASE:

1. In 1959, the land belonged to one Ninga, son of Javara, in Kesere Village in Karnataka’s Mysore district.

2. In 1968, Ninga’s rights were relinquished. On October 29, 1968, his eldest son Mallaiah and third son Devaraju surrendered their rights over 3 acres and 16 guntas of land to Ninga’s second son, Mylaraiah, after receiving Rs 300. Mylaraiah became the sole owner of the land.

3. September 1992: Preliminary notification issued to acquire land measuring 3.16 acres of Ninga’s land to form the third phase of the Devanur Layout.

4. February 1998: Final notification issued to acquire 3.16 acres of land.

5. May 1998: Land denotified, removing it from the acquisition process.

6. In 2001, the denotified land was used to form the 3rd phase of the Devanur Layout, and sites were allotted.

7. In November 2003, the land was restored to the original owner.

8. In August 2004, Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law, Mallikarjunaswamy, purchased 3.16 acres of the ’agricultural’ land.

9. July 2005: Land purchased by Mallikarjunaswamy was converted for non-agricultural use.

10. In October 2010: Mallikarjunaswamy gifted the land to his sister, Parvathi, Siddaramaiah’s wife.

11. In June 2014: Parvathi sought compensation for her land being used by MUDA.

12. In December 2017: MUDA admitted using denotified land for the layout and decided to grant alternative sites to Parvathi.

13. In November 2020: MUDA agreed to award alternative sites on a 50:50 basis, giving Parvathi half the land as developed plots.

14. In October 2021: Parvathi again petitioned MUDA for alternative sites as compensation.

15. In January 2022: Parvathi was allotted 14 plots in Vijayanagar 3rd phase.

16. In October 2023: The government scrapped the 50:50 scheme.

17. In July 4, 2024: Siddaramaiah sought compensation of Rs 62 crore, claiming his land was usurped.

18. In July 14, 2024: The government set up a one-man inquiry commission to investigate alleged illegalities.

19. In July 24, 2024: Speaker UT Khader refused permission to discuss the MUDA ’scam’ in the Assembly.

20. July 26, 2024: The Governor issued a show-cause notice to Siddaramaiah after a petition from social activist TJ Abraham.

21. August 1, 2024: The cabinet urged the Governor to withdraw the show-cause notice to the Chief Minister.

22.  August 3, 2024: Siddaramaiah responded to the notice, denying the allegations.

23. August 3-10, 2024: Opposition BJP-JD(S) organised a foot march to Mysuru.

24. August 17, 2024: The Governor granted sanction for an investigation into Siddaramaiah.

25. August 19, 2024: Siddaramaiah filed a petition in the High Court challenging the Governor’s sanction for prosecution under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

26. Case adjournment dates: The hearing was adjourned to August 29, then August 31, followed by September 9 and 12.

27. September 24, 2024: Verdict from the Karnataka High Court.