Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was questioned by the Lokayukta police for about two hours in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case on Wednesday.
Siddaramaiah came out of the office of the Mysuru Lokayukta Superintendent T.J. Udesh at 12 noon. He appeared before the Lokayukta at 10.10 a.m. After coming out, CM Siddaramaiah reached the Government Guest House in Mysuru city.
Sources said that CM Siddaramaiah asked the officers to carry out the procedure and not give him any exemption. He also asked the officers to forget that he is the CM and ask him all the questions that they want for the investigation.
Sources further stated that he was asked questions regarding the allotment of sites, land conversion and finally return of allotted sites.
CM Siddaramaiah is named as the main accused in the case related to the alleged irregularities in the MUDA.
He is the first Chief Minister to face a Lokayukta probe while being in power in the history of Karnataka.
It is also the first time CM Siddaramaiah, who has a clean record, is facing a probe in his four-decade-old political career.
Siddaramaiah, who arrived in Mysuru from Bengaluru, was welcomed by Minister for Social Welfare H.C. Mahadevappa and Minister for Animal Husbandry K. Venkatesh at the Government Guest House.
CM Siddaramaiah had breakfast at the guest house and went straight to the Lokayukta office.
Siddaramaiah was probed about his role in the allocation of sites on a 50:50 ratio to his family; land conversion and for alleged fabrication of documents.
Sources said that, if CM Siddaramaiah gets a clean chit in the Lokayukta probe, it would help him to strongly argue that the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is not required and allegations against him are political in nature.
Also, Siddaramaiah can face the investigation without the threat of being arrested.
The High Court will take up the matter on the petition demanding a CBI probe on November 26.
The court has also asked Lokayukta to submit its investigation report.
Petitioner Snehamayi Krishna has stated that he submitted a list of questions to be asked from CM Siddaramaiah.
If Lokayukta fails to ask these questions, CM Siddaramaiah will have to face the same questions asked by the CBI in the future.
A high alert has been sounded in the surrounding areas of the Lokayukta office in Mysuru.
The Lokayukta had earlier questioned CM Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathy, the second accused, brother-in-law Mallikarjunaswamy, the third accused and land owner J. Devaraju, the fourth accused.
Two drowned in Pune bridge collapse, PM Modi speaks to CM Fadnavis
At least two people were killed, 32 others injured, while a total of 41 people were rescued after they fell into an overflowing river when an old bridge they were crossing collapsed in Maharashtra's Pune district on Sunday.
Haifa port in Israel operating normally despite Iran attack
There has been no damage to Israel’s Haifa port in the Iranian ballistic missile attack on an oil refinery nearby and cargo operations are progressing unhindered, according to media reports.
No recommendation, no discrimination: HM Amit Shah hails UP’s inclusive recruitment drive
In a historic ceremony, Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath distributed appointment letters to 60,244 newly selected police personnel at the Defence Expo Ground in Sector 18, Vrindavan. Out of these 60,000 recruits, more than 12,000 comprised women.
Round-the-clock DNA profiling underway: FSL Gandhinagar Director explains complex process
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has been operating around the clock to identify victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash through DNA profiling and matching.
Civil Aviation Ministry issues strict instructions to DGCA to enforce chopper safety
In the wake of a tragic helicopter crash in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Sunday issued strict instructions to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enforce all safety protocols related to chopper operations in hilly and sensitive areas like the Kedarnath valley.
‘Harming Indians will invite punishment’, HM Shah on Op Sindoor
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that through the anti-terror Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a strong message across the world that the bloodshed of Indians will invite punishment.
Dassault CEO trashes Pakistan's claims on downing Rafale jets
Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier has dismissed as "factually incorrect" Pakistan’s claims about having shot down three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor.
Tripura BJP stages protest over vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in B'desh
Ruling BJP in Tripura on Saturday staged state-wide protests along the Bangladesh border, protesting the recent attack and vandalism of the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in the neighbouring country.