New Delhi, January 18
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 142 immovable properties having a market value of Rs. 300 crore in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and others.
These properties are registered in the name of various individuals who are working as real estate businessmen and agents, said officials.
ED initiated the investigation on the basis of a First Information Report registered by the Lokayuktha Police Mysore under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Siddaramaiah and others.
The ED's probe shows that Siddaramaiah has used his political influence to get compensation of 14 sites in the name of his wife BM Parvathi in lieu of three 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.
Searches conducted during the investigation further revealed that a large number of sites, other than 14 sites allotted to BM Parvathi, have been illegally allotted by MUDA as compensation to real estate businessmen, who in turn have sold these sites at huge profit and generated huge amount of unaccounted cash. The profit so generated has been laundered and shown as derived out of legitimate sources, officials further added.
The incriminating evidences with respect to payment of illegal gratification to then MUDA chairman and MUDA commissioner in the form of immovable property, MUDA sites, cash, etc., were recovered, officials further informed.
