'Will not give resignation': Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah hardens stand as Lokayukta begins MUDA probe

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday hardend his position on the allegations related to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. He once again reiterated that he would not resign, identifying himself as a self-witness in the matter.

Siddaramaiah also distinguished his situation from that of BS Yeddyurappa, stating that the former Chief Minister's case involved land denotification, while he was not involved in such matters.

He further expressed his intent to address the situation legally, regardless of investigations by the Enforcement Directorate or other entities.

"BS Yeddyurappa's case and mine are different cases. He did denotification of land and I am not involved in it. I will not give my resignation as a self-witness. Whether ED or anything else, I will fight it out legally," he said.

He stated that the land in question was gifted to his wife by her brother and that MUDA had encroached upon it. He explained that his wife requested an alternative site but did not specify Vijayanagara, yet it was allocated to her.

He asserted that the situation has escalated into political conflict and stated that the allegations of money laundering are not relevant to his case. He highlighted that his wife's actions were motivated by a desire to avoid controversy."

It (the land) was gifted by my wife's brother to her. MUDA encroached on it and for this, she asked for an alternative site. She didn't ask for Vijayanagara but they gave it. This has become big politics now. Let them (BJP-JDS) do whatever they want. Money laundering doesn't come into the picture here. What is my role? My wife thought it had become a reason for politics so she wrote a letter because she didn't want any controversy," Siddharmaiah said.

Earlier today, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra claimed that the Karnataka deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had made a "clear stand" on them seeking the resignation of the current Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah amid the allegation surrounding the MUDA land allocation scam.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil came down heavily at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to this case and said that ED's case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Siddaramaiah would be one of the greatest blunders that the probing agency would be doing.

On Monday, after the ED booked the Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for money laundering in a case linked to the allgeded MUDA land allotment scam, his wife wrote to the MUDA Commissioner and offered to surrender the 14 plots that were allotted to her by the authority.

Meanwhile, the Mysuru Lokayukta officially started the inquiry and investigation into the case linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam today, following a September 27 court order to file a FIR, directing them to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the MUDA.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from ANI)