Verdict in: CM’s chair firm

Strap: Supreme Court verdict ends MUDA row, boosts Siddaramaiah’s image and solidifies his grip on power

Blurb:

The Apex Court’s verdict will not only give Siddaramaiah an edge in the inter-party-political struggle but also it will help him to assert his position as the Chief Minister of the state for the full-time five years.

Byline: Ashwini K

“Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you (ED) being used?” These lines by the bench of the Supreme Court’s chief justice, BR Gavai, not only restored the “clean” image of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA Case, but also strengthened the opposition INDIA alliances claim of practising political vendetta by using the central agencies like the ED and the CBI.

And, amid the entire political chaos, who has benefited the most? It is the Siddaramaiah. The apex court’s verdict will not only restore his clarity as a compatible CM to rule the state, but also will fortify his claim on the Chief Minster’s throne for a full tenure of five years.

As soon as the verdict came, the Chief Minister’s office rejoiced with a strong political statement. The office noted, “The Supreme Court’s historic verdict rejecting the Enforcement Directorate’s appeal to investigate my wife, Smt. Parvathi, in connection with the MUDA site allotment case is a resounding slap on the face of the central government’s vendetta politics. This verdict has not only exposed the malice behind the case but has also unequivocally cleared our names of all the baseless allegations.”

What is MUDA scam

Since assuming power in the year 2023, Siddaramaiah’s tenure has been marked with two major controversies, the MUDA Scam and the Valmiki Scam. Out of these two, the MUDA Scam had a personal angle as the Chief Minister’s wife and his brother-in-law were directly accused of being the beneficiaries of the irregularities. But what is the alleged scam and how is that connected to Siddaramaih and his family?

As per the guidelines, the Mysuru Urban Development Association is bound to provide 50% of the sites or alternative sites to those who have lost their lands for developmental purposes. However, for the last few months, the opposition coalition consisting of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular), JD(S), had been accusing the government of misusing the 50:50 scheme by providing more lands to the people than they were entitled to.

In addition, they raised their concern about allotting lands with a higher value than the actual one. Their target was the Parvathi who received 14 plots of land under the 50:50 scheme. The intensity of the accusations was such that the Chief Minister’s wife decided to give back the plots she received as per the 50:50 guidelines. However, the latest verdict by the apex court made both Siddaramaiah and his wife’s lives easier.

The CM’s assertion

The Apex Court’s verdict will not only give Siddaramaiah an edge in the inter-party-political struggle but also it will help him to assert his position as the Chief Minister of the state for the full-time five years. The corruption charges could have made his life troublesome amid the high-stakes battle regarding the Chief Minister’s chair. However, as the verdict came in, it would help to portray himself as the clean face of the Karnataka politics.

If the court verdict has unsettled any political party, it is likely the BJP. Since coming to power, the party has consistently levelled corruption allegations against Siddaramaiah and sought to portray him as responsible for the state’s infrastructure woes. However, this narrative has not found widespread resonance among voters in Karnataka.

Recent bypoll results — where the BJP lost three seats, including two it was confident of winning — reflect this disconnect. When Siddaramaiah returned as Chief Minister in 2023, he remained one of the most popular leaders in the state. Despite repeated efforts, the BJP has struggled to dent his public image, and the latest verdict may pose yet another political challenge for the party.

BOX –

MUDA Scam timeline

January 2022: Parvathi was allocated 14 plots in Vijayanagar

October 2023: The Karnataka Government scrapped the 50:50 scheme

July 2024: Siddaramaiah sought Rs 62 crore compensation, claiming the lands were usurped

July 2024: The state government set up a one man inquiry commission to investigate the alleged irregularities

July 2024: The Karnataka assembly speaker denied permission on discussing the issue in the assembly.

July 2024: The Governor issued a show-cause notice to Siddaramaiah following the petition from social activist TJ Abraham.

August 2024: The state cabinet urged the Governor to withdraw the show-cause notice to Siddaramaiah.

August 2024: Siddaramaiah responded to the Governor’s notice and denied all the allegations.

August 2024: Opposition parties like BJP and JD(S) organised a foot march to Mysuru.

August 2024: The Governor granted sanction for an investigation against the Chief Minister.

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

September 2024: The Karnataka High Court dismissed Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the Governor’s sanction to prosecute him in the case.

July 2025: The Supreme Court quashed ED’s notice