MUDA MUDA chief resigns amid probe into Siddaramaiah's 'land scam'
Bengaluru/IBNS: Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) chairperson K Marigowda on Wednesday resigned amid the ongoing probe into Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's alleged land scam involving the government body, media reports said.
Marigowda, who was close to Siddaramaiah, resigned citing health reasons and instructions from the Chief Minister.
Marigowda said as quoted by India Today, "I have met the minister and submitted my resignation. The Chief Minister instructed me to resign, and following his directions, I did so. Additionally, for my health reasons, I decided to step down. There is a judicial inquiry ongoing, and that will continue. The inquiry into the allegations will reveal the truth."
"There was no pressure on me to resign. My health is genuinely not in good condition, so I am stepping down voluntarily. I have known the Chief Minister for more than 40 years. He appointed me as district president and never asked me to do anything illegal, including anything related to MUDA. I am resigning for personal reasons; I have suffered two strokes and cannot continue."
Marigowda was hospitalised last month after he complained of exhaustion.
The Enforcement Directorate registered the case against Siddaramaiah after taking cognizance of a First Information Report filed by the Lokayukta.
Besides Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju, from whom Swamy had purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi, and others have been named in the FIR registered by the Lokayukta police on September 27.
It has been alleged that compensatory sites allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife, located in an upmarket area in Mysuru, are far higher than the land acquired from her by MUDA.
BN Parvathi has written to the authority offering to return the plots of land that are at the heart of the corruption cases against her family.
In a statement, Parvathi said she was obeying the call of her conscience. "Along with returning these plots, I also demand a comprehensive investigation into all allegations related to MUDA," she said.
In her letter to MUDA, Parvathi offered to return the 14 plots allotted to her in Vijayanagar Phase 3 and 4 "in lieu of compensation for the use of 3.16 acre land in Kesare Village.
The MUDA has agreed to take back 14 plots of land.
Siddaramaiah has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the allegations against him are politically motivated.
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