Karnataka HC voids ED summons for CM's wife, citing lack of evidence

The Karnataka High Court has nullified the Enforcement Directorate's summons to BM Parvathi, wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

She is a significant figure in the ongoing Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam, where her husband has also been implicated.

This decision was delivered by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who also dismissed the summons issued to Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, another individual the probe agency intended to question.

Earlier this year, in January, the court had put a hold on the ED’s summons. Ms. Parvathi contended that the ED was revisiting a matter - pertaining to alleged land allotment irregularities - that was already under investigation.

The Karnataka branch of the anti-corruption watchdog, Lokayukta, had led these inquiries and concluded last month that there was insufficient evidence to justify an investigation against the Chief Minister and his wife. The body also noted that the complaint did not appear to warrant criminal charges.

The MUDA land scam came to light last year following accusations by anti-corruption activists. They alleged that between 2016 and 2024, MUDA had allotted compensatory plots of land, particularly in a high-end area of Mysuru, to Ms. Parvathi. This allocation reportedly exceeded the value of land acquired by the agency and was projected to have cost the state exchequer Rs 45 crore.

The ED is currently exploring money laundering aspects connected to the MUDA land scam.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has consistently refuted any misconduct in this matter or related transactions, stating that the 14 plots allocated to his wife were gifts from her brother.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything," he stated emphatically, maintaining that he would not resign as there has been no conviction in any case. He expressed his readiness to face the investigation and vowed to pursue a legal battle, especially following the Karnataka High Court’s dismissal of his challenge to the Governor's sanction.