Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday reserved its order on a plea filed by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah challenging the Governor’s sanction for his prosecution in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case after hearing submissions.
High Court also extended stay on trial court proceedings against Siddaramaiah till disposal of his plea
Justice M Nagaprasanna, while reserving the order, also extended its August 19 interim order staying trial court proceedings against Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case till the disposal of his petition.
Siddaramaiah has challenged legality of Karnataka Governor’s sanction for his prosecution in MUDA case
Siddaramaiah moved the High Court on August 19 challenging the legality of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction for his prosecution in the MUDA case. He has sought quashing of the order of the Governor, submitting that the decision of Governor to grant sanction for his prosecution in MUDA case is legally unsustainable, procedurally flawed, and motivated by extraneous considerations.
Sanction granted by Governor tainted and an effort to destabilise elected government in Karnataka: Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah has submitted before the High Court that the Governor’s decision to grant sanction for his prosecution under section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Samhitha, 2023 has been done without application of mind and that the sanction granted by the Karnataka Governor is tainted and an effort to destabilise an elected government in Karnataka.
Karnataka Governor accorded sanction for Siddaramaiah’s prosecution on August 16
The Karnataka Governor accorded sanction for Siddaramaiah’s prosecution under section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988 and section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the commission of the alleged offences on the petitions of activists Pradeep Kumar SP, TJ Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna on August 16.
The MUDA scam pertains to alleged irregularities in the allotment of alternative sites by MUDA and it has been alleged that Siddaramaiah’s wife was also a beneficiary.