The Karnataka High Court on Saturday postponed the hearing of appeals filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Mysuru landowner J Devaraju in the MUDA housing case to March 22. The case involves allegations of irregularities in the allotment of 14 Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) housing sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice M I Arun, adjourned the matter after Siddaramaiah’s counsel requested additional time for senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi to represent him. The appeals challenge a September 24, 2024, ruling by Justice M Nagaprasanna that allowed an investigation into the land grant.
The hearing was previously postponed from December 5 to January 25, 2025, to allow more time for discussion. However, the court declined to stay proceedings in an RTI activist’s petition seeking a CBI inquiry into the alleged MUDA land scam from 2021.
In the meantime, reports suggest that Lokayukta police may exonerate Siddaramaiah, citing insufficient evidence. The disputed land was initially allocated to Siddaramaiah’s wife as compensation for 3.16 acres of land allegedly acquired improperly from her brother. Following accusations that the family gained ₹56 crore from the deal, they returned the sites to MUDA.
The Opposition BJP has warned of renewed protests if the Lokayukta police clear Siddaramaiah of any wrongdoing.
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