ED books Siddaramaiah in MUDA-linked money-laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate connected Monday booked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and immoderate others successful a money-laundering lawsuit linked to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, taking cognisance of a caller authorities Lokayukta FIR, authoritative sources said.

The national bureau has filed an enforcement lawsuit accusation study (ECIR) to publication the main curate and others, they said.

Siddaramaiah, his woman B M Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju -- from whom Swamy had purchased onshore and talented it to Parvathi -- and others person been named successful the FIR registered by the Mysuru-located Lokayukta constabulary constitution connected September 27.

The FIR was lodged aft a peculiar tribunal successful Bengaluru past week ordered a Lokayukta constabulary probe against Siddaramaiah successful the case.

The bid of the peculiar tribunal justice came a time aft the precocious tribunal upheld the authorisation granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to behaviour an probe against the elder Congress person connected allegations of illegalities successful the allotment of 14 sites to his woman by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The ED has pressed sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to publication Siddaramaiah successful its ECIR, the equivalent of a constabulary FIR.

According to the procedure, the ED is empowered to summon the accused for questioning and adjacent connect their assets during the investigation.

Siddaramaiah, 76, had past week said helium was being targeted successful the MUDA contented arsenic the absorption was "scared" of him and noted that it was the archetypal specified "political case" against him.

He besides reiterated that helium would not resign pursuing the tribunal ordering a probe against him successful the lawsuit arsenic helium has done nary incorrect and asserted that helium would combat the lawsuit legally.

In the MUDA site-allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were fixed to Siddaramaiah's woman successful an upmarket country successful Mysuru, which had higher spot worth arsenic compared to the determination of her onshore that was "acquired" by MUDA.

The Lokayukta FIR has been registered nether assorted sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) similar 120B (criminal conspiracy), 166 (public servant disobeying law, with intent to origin wounded to immoderate person), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing transportation of property), 426 (mischief), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for intent of cheating), 340 (wrongful confinement) and 351 (assault).