K’taka HC gives nod to ED to conduct probe in MUDA land scam case
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday allowed the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to investigate all accused persons in the MUDA site allotment case, except former MUDA commissioner D B Natesh.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind ruled that the ED is entitled to proceed with the investigation against other accused individuals in accordance with the law.
The ED had approached the division bench seeking a stay on a single-judge bench order that had quashed the summons issued to Natesh.
"Investigation under the PML Act is not to be hampered or put on hold, nor would its continuance be affected adversely in relation to the alleged scam. The investigating authority—the applicant, Directorate of Enforcement—notwithstanding the judgment and order of the learned single judge impugned in this appeal, is allowed to investigate the matter," the court stated.
It further stated that the impugned judgment and order should not prevent the ED from proceeding with the inquiry and investigation in accordance with the law concerning other accused individuals and persons who may need to be questioned or investigated in connection with the case, notwithstanding the impugned judgment and directions in the petitioner's case.
"As the court has permitted the inquiry and investigation to continue against other accused persons, the applicant—Enforcement Directorate, the investigating agency—shall be at liberty to utilise all documents and materials gathered, recovered, and secured during the search and seizure at the petitioner’s premises. The agency may also use recorded statements for the remainder of the investigation, in accordance with the law," the division bench added.
Alongside the Lokayukta, the ED is probing the MUDA site allotment case, in which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi B M, her brother Mallikarjuna Swamy, and land seller Devaraju are among the accused.
In the MUDA site allotment 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 instead of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout.
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Bengaluru: A new health report has revealed that over 75% of Karnataka's population screened in 2024 is either obese or overweight, highlighting an alarming rise in lifestyle-related health issues.
According to the Health of the Nation 2025 report by Apollo Hospitals, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, 56% of those screened were diagnosed as obese, while another 21% were classified as overweight.
The report underscores a growing public health crisis, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and undiagnosed chronic conditions that often do not show visible symptoms. The annual report, which examined health data from over 2.5 million preventive screenings conducted across the Apollo ecosystem in India, reveals that symptom-based healthcare is increasingly insufficient to address these hidden health risks.
In Karnataka, the report found that 28% of the individuals screened were hypertensive, with half of them classified as pre-hypertensive. Diabetes was found in 20% of the population, with an additional 25% falling into the pre-diabetic category. These figures reflect the rising metabolic stress among asymptomatic individuals, many of whom are unaware of their conditions.
Additionally, the report noted that 84% of the screened individuals in the state had low vitamin D levels, which can negatively impact bone health and immunity. Furthermore, 64% exhibited reduced flexibility, affecting musculoskeletal wellness.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the need for India to shift towards a preventive health culture. "Early screening, personalised interventions, and health education should become integral to our homes, schools, and workplaces," TNIE quoted him as saying.
The report also highlighted several other health threats, including fatty liver disease, post-menopause health risks, and childhood obesity. Of the 2.5 million people screened nationally, 65% had fatty liver with 85% of those cases being non-alcoholic. Heart disease signs were present in 46% of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a sharp increase in both obesity (from 76% to 86%) and diabetes (from 14% to 40%).
Childhood obesity is also becoming a significant concern, with the report revealing that 28% of college students were either overweight or obese, and 19% showed signs of prehypertension.
Mental health issues, often under-reported, emerged as another area of concern, with 7% of women and 5% of men screened nationwide showing symptoms of clinical depression, particularly among the middle-aged population.
