‘Won’t be scared…’: Congress after ED books CM Siddaramaiah in alleged MUDA scam

NEW DELHI: After the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) booked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for money laundering in a case linked to the alleged MUDA land allotment scam, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said that from day one, attempts are being made from Delhi to shake and destabilise the Karnataka government.

Addressing a press conference, Jairam Ramesh said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government will complete its term of five years.

“From day one, 25th May 2023, attempts are being made from Delhi to shake and destabilise the (Karnataka) government. Cases are being registered, Income Tax, CBI and now ED. This is an attempt to scare us. This is the politics of vengeance and harassment. We won’t be scared, whatever needs to be probed, must be probed. The truth will come out. The mandate Karnataka government got from people for 5 years, we will complete it and all the guarantees we promised will be fulfilled”, Jairam said.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, ” …From the day one, 25th May 2023, attempts are being made from Delhi to shake and destabilise the (Karnataka)govt…cases are being registered, Income Tax, CBI and now ED. This is an attempt to scare us. This is the politics… pic.twitter.com/hqjx5COw9A

— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2024

Earlier today, CM Siddaramaiah hardened his position on the allegations related to the MUDA land scam. He once again reiterated that he would not resign, identifying himself as a self-witness in the matter.

Siddaramaiah also distinguished his situation from that of B S Yediyurappa, stating that the former Chief Minister’s case involved land denotification, while he was not involved in such matters. He further expressed his intent to address the situation legally, regardless of investigations by the Enforcement Directorate or other entities.

“BS Yediyurappa’s case and mine are different cases. He did denotification of land and I am not involved in it. I will not give my resignation as a self-witness. Whether ED or anything else, I will fight it out legally”, he said.

He stated that the land in question was gifted to his wife by her brother and that MUDA had encroached upon it. He explained that his wife requested an alternative site but did not specify Vijayanagara, yet it was allocated to her.

The Mysuru Lokayukta officially started the inquiry and investigation into the case linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam today, following a September 27 court order to file a FIR, directing them to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the MUDA. (ANI)