After Siddaramaiah, Will Vadra-Gandhis Be Forced to Surrender AJL Land?

New Delhi: In a major political exposé, the Congress government in Karnataka found itself defenceless as over 1,500 pages of exclusive documents have surfaced, revealing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's involvement in the illegal MUDA land dealings. The report, brought to light by R Kannada's relentless investigation, forced Siddaramaiah to surrender his claims over the disputed land, triggering intense rumblings within the Karnataka Congress over his possible replacement. 

As the nation's top political story unfolds, the spotlight shifted to the Vadra-Gandhi family, who could face a similar reckoning in the ongoing AJL land scam investigation. Could the collapse of Siddaramaiah’s defence signal trouble for the political dynasty next? 

MUDA Scam: What Happened in Karnataka?

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi has written to the MUDA Commissioner expressing her willingness to return the 14 sites in the Mysuru upmarket. In her letter to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Commissioner, Parvathi said she was allotted the 14 alternative sites in the third and fourth phase of Vijayanagar in Mysuru against the 'usage' of her three acres and 16 Guntas of land in Kesare village under Kasaba Hobli in Mysuru "without even acquiring it".

"I am willing to return the 14 sites by way of cancelling the sale deed. I want MUDA to acquire these sites. I request you to take steps in this direction at the earliest," Parvathi said in her letter.

The letter comes against the backdrop of Karnataka Lokayukta police registering a case against Siddaramaiah on the directions of a special court in connection with the land allotment. Siddaramaiah, his wife B M Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju -- from whom Swamy had purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others have been named in the FIR registered by the Mysuru-located Lokayukta police establishment on September 27.  

'Admission of Guilt'

The BJP termed Parvathi's letter to the MUDA Commissioner as an "admission of guilt" and demanded the Karnataka CM's resignation. "Instead of sending his (Siddaramaiah) resignation letter, a redemption letter is being written," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said.

He said she had written to the MUDA commissioner expressing her willingness to return the 14 sites that she had been allotted to evade investigation in the case.

"If no wrong was committed, why are you returning (the sites)? That too when the orders of the High Court and special court came, an FIR was registered and ED case also started," Poonawalla asked.

"A letter of guilt has come. Corruption happened (in MUDA site allocation). Now the letter of redemption won't work. It's time for Siddaramaiah to resign. He doesn't have any moral right to continue as the chief minister," the BJP spokesperson said.  

ED Books Siddaramaiah

Meanwhile, taking cognisance of the case, the ED imposed sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to book Siddaramaiah in its enforcement case information report (ECIR), the equivalent of a police FIR, according to agency officials.  

The Enforcement Directorate officials said the agency has booked Siddaramaiah, his wife and some others in a money laundering case linked to the MUDA land allotment case, taking cognisance of a recent state Lokayukta FIR. A special court exclusively to deal with criminal cases related to former and elected MPs/MLAs had directed the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to initiate an investigation into the matter.

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

MUDA Scam Row

Controversy erupted over the alleged misuse of compensatory residential site allotments by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), with accusations centring around land previously owned by Parvathi Siddaramaiah, wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The opposition and the BJP have branded this situation as the ‘MUDA Scam.’

Parvathi Siddaramaiah was the recipient of 3 acres of land in Kesare village, located on the outskirts of Mysuru, gifted to her by her brother, Mallikarjun. This land was later acquired by MUDA for development purposes. In compensation, Parvathi was allotted 38,283 square feet of prime residential plots in Vijayanagar, a highly sought-after area in southern Mysuru, in 2021.

Urban Development Minister Byrati Suresh has already transferred four MUDA officials, including MUDA Commissioner Dinesh Kumar, as the controversy heats up. This move follows initial information brought to light through Right to Information (RTI) requests filed by activist Gangaraju, which highlighted developments in the Devanur layout on land linked to Siddaramaiah's wife.

Critics, particularly from the BJP , argued that the market value of the residential plots in Vijayanagar far exceeds that of the original land in Kesare, sparking accusations of a major scam. Interestingly, the controversial land allocation took place under the previous BJP government led by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.   

Is the Vadra-Gandhi Family the Next in Line in the AJL Land Scam?

Siddaramah, recently booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the MUDA scam, has shed light on several other cases, particularly the infamous AJL land scam. The Vadra-Gandhi family may soon face intensified legal scrutiny in connection with the AJL land scam, following recent developments in the MUDA case. 

A plot in Panchkula, initially allotted and later re-allotted to the Gandhi-owned Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in 1982 and 2005, has garnered massive media attention. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who served as the ex-officio Chairman of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) from 2005 to 2014, faces accusations of illegally allotting a 3,360-square-meter plot, allegedly in violation of existing regulations.

About AJL Land Scam

The AJL land scam involves allegations of irregularities and misuse of power related to land allocations to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company linked to the Gandhi family. The controversy primarily centres on land parcels allotted to AJL for setting up offices of its publications, including the National Herald.

Initial Allotments: The land in question was first allotted to AJL in 1982 and then re-allotted in 2005. The re-allocation has come under scrutiny for alleged violations of legal procedures.

Accusations Against Politicians: Prominent politicians, including former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, have been accused of misusing their positions to facilitate these land deals.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) Involvement: The Enforcement Directorate is investigating the matter, focusing on possible financial irregularities, corruption, and the legality of the land transfers.