Bengaluru. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah once again reiterated on Thursday that he will not resign from his post. He rejected allegations of any irregularity in the allotment of 14 plots to his wife by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Siddaramaiah termed the allegations against him as a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that he would fight a legal battle.
A special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday ordered an investigation by the Lokayukta police in Mysuru against the Chief Minister in the MUDA land allotment “scam”, paving the way for filing an FIR against him. Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar also ruled out the possibility of Siddaramaiah’s resignation. Opposition party BJP in Karnataka on Thursday protested in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Vidhana Soudha here and demanded the resignation of Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah told reporters here, “There is no question of resigning because I have not done anything wrong. This (allegations against him) is a conspiracy by the BJP.” He said, “….Had the Prime Minister (then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi) resigned due to the Godhra incident? (HD) Kumaraswamy (JDS leader) is a minister in the Narendra Modi government, he is on bail, has he resigned?” The Chief Minister asked, “Did he resign? Aren’t they ashamed? I will not resign. I will fight a legal battle.” Shivkumar said, “The Chief Minister will not resign. This is a political conspiracy of BJP and Janata Dal S. They are not able to digest the fact that the public is getting the benefits of our five guarantee schemes.”
Consulting with legal experts on filing appeal: Advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
Consultations are underway with senior advocates and experts on filing of appeal in view of the court orders upholding the Governor’s nod for investigation against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) plot allotment case and the Lokayukta police investigation ordered against him. . A prominent legal advisor said this on Thursday. A special court here on Wednesday ordered a Lokayukta police inquiry against Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case, paving the way for filing of an FIR against him.
Special court judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat’s order comes after a single judge bench of the high court approved Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s probe against Siddaramaiah on allegations of illegality in the allotment of 14 plots on behalf of MUDA to Chief Minister’s wife B M Parvati. Came a day after retaining the.
Congress MLA, senior advocate and legal advisor to the Chief Minister A S Ponnana told reporters here, “We have been saying from the beginning that whatever investigation is done, we have no objection. But, it is necessary to rectify the legal deficiencies that have occurred, it is our duty.” Asked about the possibility of appealing to the division bench of the High Court or the Supreme Court, Ponnana said, “Where and when the appeal has to be filed and what action should be taken with respect to the MP/MLA (Special) Court, all these things will be decided.” That we are investigating.”
He said, “Discussions are going on with the advocates and senior advocate. Our lawyer in Delhi, who argued the case (Abhishek Manu Singhvi), we will try to take his advice and after that in a few days we will clarify our stand.” Citing the High Court decision, Ponnana said, “Our argument was that there was no use of brain on the part of the Governor. This legal principle called use of mind is not only limited to the Governor, but it also applies to the court.” The special court, which exclusively deals with criminal cases related to former and elected MPs/MLAs, on Wednesday issued orders to the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to initiate investigation against Siddaramaiah on a complaint filed by RTI activist Snemayi Krishna. Ponnana described the case against the Chief Minister as “completely politically motivated”. He said, “Whether there is any investigation or inquiry, the truth cannot be hidden.”