MUDA case: ED's statement issued at behest of BJP, says CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Jan 20 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the ED's statement on the MUDA site allotment case was politically motivated.
The chief minister, his wife Parvathi B M and her brother Mallakarjuna Swamy and others are accused in the case registered by the Lokayukta police on court directions.
The Enforcement Directorate on January 17 said it had attached 142 units of immovable assets worth about Rs 300 crore in a MUDA-linked money laundering case involving Siddaramaiah and others.
The ED is also probing the case based on a complaint by an activist Snehamayi Krishna.
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"I have no connection with the ED's press release. They (ED) are doing it intentionally and unnecessarily for political reasons," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
"The ED issued the release at the behest of the BJP. It is politically motivated," he added.
The ED attachment is part of a money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in land allotment by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
The attached properties are registered in the name of various individuals who are working as real-estate businessmen and agents, the federal agency said in a statement.
"It is alleged that Siddaramaiah (a Congress leader) used his political influence to get compensation for 14 sites in the name of his wife Smt. BM Parvathi in lieu of 3 acres 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA.
"The land was originally acquired by MUDA for Rs 3,24,700. The compensation in the form of 14 sites at posh locality is worth Rs 56 crore," the agency said.
The chief minister, who has been questioned by the Karnataka Lokayukta in this case, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by him or his family, saying the opposition was "scared" of him and that these were politically motivated charges.
ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಪಕ್ಷವೇ ಇ.ಡಿ ಮೂಲಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಿಸಿದೆ. ಇದು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪ್ರೇರಿತ ನಡೆ. pic.twitter.com/anXklVVRkg
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 20, 2025
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
