The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday carried out coordinated raids throughout 9 areas in Bengaluru and Mysuru as a part of an ongoing probe into alleged irregularities inside the Mysore City Improvement Authority (MUDA), officers acquainted with the matter mentioned.
In each cities, ED officers focused the residences and places of work of MUDA officers and actual property builders believed to be related to the case. An official mentioned {that a} high-profile inspection occurred at a builder’s upscale residence in Bengaluru’s Greenback’s Colony, the place ED brokers documented proof concerning substantial monetary exchanges. “The builder is linked to varied actual property tasks in Bengaluru and Mysuru, and former questioning of eight MUDA officers had results in transactions involving this builder,” mentioned senior police officer.
On Monday, RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna handed over ‘video proof’ to ED in assist of his criticism. In his letter to the ED Extra Director right here, Krishna mentioned he has obtained a video. “It’s clearly seen that bundles of money are being counted within the again seat of a car, whereas a dialog is going down with an individual within the entrance seat. Within the dialog, a sum of ₹25 lakh is talked about explicitly,” Krishna mentioned.
Sharing the names of the individuals between whom the money transaction allegedly occurred within the video, Krishna requested the ED official to summon them, evaluate the video, conduct an inquiry, and collect the small print concerning “transactions with the Mysore City Improvement Authority (MUDA) in a 50:50 ratio.”
The MUDA case revolves round 14 compensatory websites being allotted to Parvathi in an upmarket space in Mysuru (Vijayanagar Format third and fourth phases), which had larger property worth as in comparison with the placement of her land which had been “acquired” by MUDA. The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi below a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of three.16 acres of her land, the place it developed a residential structure. Underneath the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50% of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts.After the controversy broke out, Parvathi introduced that she was returning the allotted plots to MUDA.
The probe gained momentum after the raids on the MUDA workplace in Mysuru on October 18, the place ED officers allegedly discovered information hinting at violations in website allotments. The ED has additionally examined the involvement of J Devaraju, a landowner and the fourth accused within the case, with searches performed at his residence as effectively. Snehamayi Krishna’s criticism had earlier accused MUDA of allotting a number of websites to supporters and shut allies of chief minister Siddaramaiah and different outstanding political figures, sparking wider scrutiny.
Parallel to the ED investigation, the Karnataka Lokayukta has been conducting its personal inquiry into the allegations surrounding MUDA. On October 25, Lokayukta officers summoned BM Parvathi, spouse of CM Siddaramaiah, for questioning over her alleged position within the case.
Along with monetary transactions, officers mentioned that the ED has traced vital financial exchanges linked to the MUDA case. Investigators have expressed explicit concern over the probability of funds channelling into unauthorised tasks or politically motivated website allotments.
In the meantime, the ED has summoned RTI activist N Gangaraju, who has made allegation about misconduct inside MUDA, and lately highlighted additional discrepancies in one other land transaction involving Parvathi. Gangaraju mentioned Parvathi reportedly registered a MUDA website that was initially reserved for a public street in Mysuru’s Hebbal space, although she later requested a rectification of this transaction. Following his latest criticism, Gangaraju was summoned by the ED to supply additional info on these claims.
Gangaraju’s scheduled look on the ED’s Bengaluru zonal workplace was initially set for October 23, nevertheless, as a consequence of delayed communication, he secured approval to fulfill with the ED on Monday. Lead investigator V Muralikkannan reportedly issued the summons, to make clear Gangaraju’s allegations regarding each the chief minister and his household’s land dealings.
With PTI inputs
