Lokayukta questions CM’s brother-in-law, another accused in MUDA case for nine hours
Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law BM Mallikarjuna Swamy and land owner J Devaraju, who are the third and fourth accused in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment ‘scam’, were questioned by the Lokayukta Police for more than nine hours on Thursday.
The accused were grilled separately from around 11.30 am till 9 pm regarding the allegations of their creation of fraudulent documents as well as illegal purchase of property. The Lokayukta Police officers checked the documents, evidence presented by the Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju. Their statements were collected by the officers, who also cross-verified their accounts. Devaraju, after questioning, stated that he had shared necessary information regarding the case with the investigators.
Devaraju is learned to have given a site of three acres and 16 guntas under the administration of MUDA to Mallikarjuna Swamy in 2005. Devaraju, however, is accused by his nephew of using a fake title deed while selling the property to Mallikarjuna Swamy, who later gifted the site to his younger sister and CM Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, in 2010.
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In addition to use of fake documents during the transfer of the sites, the MUDA ‘scam’ is rooted in Parvathi’s demand for compensation from the government body for taking over the site for development work. In 2020, she was given 14 sites by the MUDA as compensation, leading to allegations of office misuse by the CM. Facing pressure from the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Parvathi returned the sites earlier this month.
As the Lokayukta probe into the case is expected to be concluded by December 25, the questioning of the two accused was considered crucial. The investigation team was led by Superintendent of Police (SP) TJ Udesh DSPs Malthesh and Mathew Thomas.
In addition, the case is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
