"Siddaramaiah wanted to tarnish my image": Union Minister Kumaraswamy slams Karnataka Congress govt

Addressing the media, after appearing before the Lokayukta, Kumaraswamy said that he appeared before the Lokayukta office "pertaining to a complaint filed by one Jaya Kumar Hiremutt in 2015 when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister."

"Siddaramaiah has no moral right to criticise the PM by taking his name frequently. Everyday Siddaramaiah is also taking my name unnecessarily, saying that I'm on bail. In 2015, Siddaramaiah wanted to tarnish my image by conspiring with a few police officials. There's no subject to take action against me. Siddaramaiah is demanding my resignation now but what was his Why has your government from the last 12 years not been conducting a thorough investigation with your SIT? Why are you delaying the investigation? Siddaramaiah has again instructed ADGP Chandrashekhar to pursue the case who appeared before the governor requesting my prosecution. I will expose Chandrashekhar's background too," Kumaraswamy said.

JD(S) leader appeared before the Lokayukta police for questioning in connection with a land denotification case.

"I visited the Lokayukta office today in connection with a complaint made by a person named Jai Kumar in 2015. Since 2015, that case has been going on without any investigation. This complaint was filed by that person when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister. Even at that time, there were many illegal activities of the Siddaramaiah government. When I started exposing them, they wanted to embarrass me by giving false complaints. After 9 years, they have again raised this topic. Lokayukta officials informed me about the issue. I only told them that I will come today itself and answer their questions," he added.

Earlier today, the Lokayukta Police filed an FIR against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment 'scam', officials said.

The FIR has been filed by the Mysuru Lokayukta under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 351, 420, 340, 09, and 120B among others, they said.

The FIR mentions CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law and others as accused in the case, they added.

Earlier, Snehamayi Krishna, one of the complainants in the MUDA scam, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, seeking the transfer of the case from the Lokayukta to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The matter is expected to be heard on September 30.

This comes after the Special Court in Bengaluru passed an order directing Karnataka Lokyukta to conduct an investigation against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Karnataka Lokayukta's Mysuru district police will have to conduct the investigation and will submit its report in three months. The Special Court's order came after the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday vacated its interim stay order granted on August 19, directing the court to defer the decision on the complaints against Siddaramaiah.

CM Siddaramaiah earlier reiterated that he will not resign over the alleged MUDA land allotment scam. He said that the opposition is making the demand for his resignation in order to destabilise his government.

"I will not resign. HD Kumaraswamy is a minister; he is on bail after an FIR was lodged against him. He is a minister in the Narendra Modi government. It's a politics by them to destabilise our government; that is why they are doing it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife in the prime location of Mysuru city.

Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka government withdrew open consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe in the state. (ANI)