Blitz Bureau
BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on August 19 instructed a trial court to refrain from taking any immediate action against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah until a petition against the Governor’s sanction is heard.
This decision follows Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot’s approval to prosecute the Congress leader in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The temporary relief will remain in place until August 29, when the court is scheduled to review the case again.
The Chief Minister requested this temporary relief on the basis that the Governor’s actions were “illegal and without the authority of law”. He argued that permitting his prosecution would pose “a grave and imminent risk of irreparable harm (to his) reputation” as well as “disrupt governance… and potentially result in political destabilisation.”
Siddaramaiah moved the High Court challenging the Governor’s authorisation to prosecute him regarding alleged irregularities in a site allocation by the MUDA. However, Karnataka Leader of the Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka said thousands of crores have been looted in the MUDA case while Rs 187 crore scam has taken place in the Welfare Tribal Welfare Board.
“People want Siddaramaiah to step down. The Chief Minister must resign immediately. The Assembly gave him a chance to prove his innocence. Instead, he ran away without clarifying,” Ashoka said.
He also criticised Congress on their protests, saying that their protests are leading to a breakdown of law and order in the state. He urged the Governor to impose the President’s rule immediately in the state, adding that the public has become aware of the “loot”, “corruption”, and “theft” happening under the Congress government.The allotment of 14 premium sites cost the state Rs 45 crore, he added.
