MUDA case: BJP demands cancellation of land allotted in 50:50 ratio

Bengaluru, September 3 (IANS): The Karnataka BJP on Tuesday demanded that the Siddaramaiah government issue a notification for cancellation of thousands of sites allotted by MUDA under the 50:50 rule.

The BJP has criticised the Congress government for delaying action against the former Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) commissioner.

The state government on Monday suspended former MUDA commissioner GT Dinesh Kumar in connection with serious allegations levelled against him during his tenure in the civic agency. Dinesh Kumar has been kept under suspension with immediate effect pending an inquiry. He has also been asked not to leave the headquarters without permission.

Last week, a controversy erupted after the government decided to promote the officer. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, when asked about the issue, claimed that he was not aware of the development. Dinesh Kumar is accused of helping Siddaramaiah’s family and land sharks by violating all rules regarding land allotment. He is also accused of turning a blind eye to the repeated letters written by the Mysuru District Commissioner regarding allotment of sites in a 50:50 ratio.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra, taking to social media platform X on Tuesday, said, “The technical committee appointed under our BJP government had already submitted a detailed report to the Congress government on November 3, 2023, stating that allotment of plots on the basis of 50:50 ratio is against the rules. This report provided complete information about the massive corruption and illegalities going on in MUDA. The inquiry report of the technical committee was gathering dust, reflecting the corrupt practices of the Congress government. The report has now been released by us. After that, having no other option, they suspended former MUDA commissioner GT Dinesh Kumar, one of the masterminds of the illegalities in MUDA.”

“It is like ‘closing the stable after the horse has run away’, but at least they have now suspended a corrupt official. The government should immediately issue a notification to cancel the sale of thousands of plots distributed in 50:50 ratio in MUDA,” he demanded.

“Among the reasons given for the suspension, distribution of plots in violation of rules in the 50:50 ratio has been highlighted as an important point. This indicates that the 14 plots earlier given to CM Siddaramaiah’s wife in the 50:50 ratio are completely illegal and against the rules,” he stressed.

“What is special is that no action was taken against a former commissioner who allotted 14 plots to the chief minister’s family, but he received all the support and feedback,” Vijayendra pointed out.

“In this connection, why should the respected Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wait for a court decision? When the government itself has declared that the plots allotted to your wife are illegal and against the rules, you should now put aside your stubbornness, resign from your post, put an end to the shame on the honourable office of the Chief Minister of Karnataka and preserve your dignity,” he lashed out.

The Karnataka High Court is hearing the MUDA case and the hearing has been adjourned till September 9. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has given his consent to the prosecution against CM Siddaramaiah. In turn, CM Siddaramaiah has challenged the governor’s order in the High Court.