Bengaluru: As Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family face allegations in the infamous Muda land scam, questions are being raised about whether returning the disputed land will alleviate the legal pressures they now face. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched an investigation into money laundering charges related to the case, even as Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, has made an offer to return the controversial land.
In a letter to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (Muda), Parvathi expressed her intention to return 14 plots that were allotted to her. “My husband is more important to me,” she wrote, explaining her decision to relinquish the land. However, Muda has yet to respond to her offer.
Siddaramaiah commented on his wife’s letter, stating, “It is her decision, but I am also ready to fight a long battle.”
The central question now is whether this move will provide Siddaramaiah with any relief in the ongoing probe. A day prior, the ED had filed an FIR against the Chief Minister under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for his involvement in the scam.
According to former ED Joint Director Satyendra Singh, returning the land may not significantly affect the ED’s investigation. “Returning the land does not erase the crime conspiracy,” Singh explained, noting that Siddaramaiah and his family are accused of falsifying documents to acquire the land. “The original FIR, filed by the Lokayukta, will drive the investigation forward,” he added.
Singh further speculated that the ED would have likely seized the land regardless, given that it is central to the investigation. He hinted that the family may have preemptively decided to return the plots.
With the ED now formally involved, the investigation is expected to intensify. According to reports, the agency will summon Siddaramaiah and other parties for questioning, while potential raids on his close associates are also anticipated. The FIR names Siddaramaiah as the primary accused, making him a key figure in the investigation.
Political observers are questioning whether the ED will arrest Siddaramaiah, as the agency has done with other high-profile political figures in recent months, such as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Satyendra Singh outlined the two main conditions under which the ED typically makes arrests: when an accused refuses to cooperate with the investigation or when there is evidence of tampering. However, recent judicial rulings, including Supreme Court comments on ED’s conduct, suggest the agency may proceed cautiously in this case.
The origins of the Muda land scam date back to 2020, when the then-BJP government launched a scheme to allocate plots to landowners as compensation for land acquired for development purposes. The scheme, based on a 50-50 policy, was scrapped in 2023 amid widespread criticism. Siddaramaiah and his family are accused of exploiting the scheme using forged documents and abusing their power, allegedly receiving benefits worth ₹55 crore.
The Chief Minister has vehemently denied the allegations, calling the case a political conspiracy. However, with both the Lokayukta and ED now involved, the legal battle is far from over.