Through Our Lenses
MUDA Scam
The case relates to alleged violations by MUDA in which several people received more alternative sites than they were entitled to in lieu of their land that was used for the development of major and important areas of Mysuru.
INDIAFEATURED
10/20/20242 min read
MUDA stands for Mysuru Urban Development Authority constituted under the Karnataka Urban Development Authority (KUDA) Act of 1987, is a governmental organization that oversees the planning and development of infrastructure, provision of development-related sites and services, and the housing needs of underprivileged citizens in Mysore through the development of Industrial sites, commercial sites, and residential sites.
MUDA covers an area of 286-square-kilometres designated as Mysuru Urban Agglomeration with areas of Mysuru, Hootagalli, Srirampura, Bhogadi, Kadakola, Rammanahalli under it.
Background of the MUDA Scam
It started when three anti-corruption activists approached the governor for sanction to file complaints against the Karnataka CM.
They alleged that his wife received 14 housing sites from MUDA in exchange for a 3.16-acre plot of land that MUDA illegally acquired in 2021 during the previous BJP-led government’s tenure.
This allegedly resulted in a Rs. 55.80 crore loss for the state.
Karnataka Governor issued a show cause notice to the CM and sanctioned the proceedings against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) 1988 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
The CM challenged this sanction (on the ground that the Governor of a state is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers) and the Karnataka HC placed an embargo on the trial against him.
What did Karnataka HC decide?
Issue before the court - To examine Section 17A of the PCA:
It specifically deals with the procedure when the police seek sanction to conduct an inquiry.This led to the question of whether sanction for prosecution can be given when a private person is a complainant.
The ruling of the court:
The PCA does not require only a police officer to seek approval to investigate a public official. In fact, it is the duty of a complainant to seek such approval even if they are a private citizen.After seeing the facts of the case, investigation into the alleged MUDA scam case and its beneficiary (the Karnataka CM’s family), is certainly necessary.Hence, the governor's order nowhere suffers from want of application of mind and the alleged haste does not invalidate the order.
Impact of the ruling:
The order essentially allows the three RTI activists to approach an anti-corruption agency such as the Karnataka Lokayukta police to seek a probe into the MUDA scam case.