Court rejects plea to change IO in MUDA case, directs Lokayukta to finish probe in 2 months
Bengaluru (PTI): A court here on Thursday rejected an application filed by activist and complainant Snehamayi Krishna seeking a change of Investigating Officer in a case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The petitioner had requested the court to direct the Karnataka Lokayukta to appoint a different officer to handle the investigation.
However, the Bengaluru Additional City Civil and Sessions Court declined the request and instead directed the Lokayukta to complete the ongoing investigation "as expeditiously as possible" and within a maximum period of two months.
The order specifically stated that no further extension of time would be granted for filing the comprehensive report.
The court also directed its office to immediately communicate the order to the Investigating Agency.
During Thursday's hearing, the complainant appeared in person, while the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) representing both the Enforcement Directorate and the Karnataka Lokayukta was present.
The matter has been posted for the next hearing on November 15, for furnishing of the final report.
In the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout.
Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts.
It is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk Karnataka Lokayukta police, and the Directorate of Enforcement have launched an investigation into the 'scam'.
The chief minister has denied any wrongdoing in the alleged scam.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
