The Karnataka High Court has dismissed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s decision to sanction his prosecution in the alleged MUDA land scam case.
A bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna said the Governor “did apply his mind in abundance” and that the order (sanctioning prosecution) “does not suffer from non-application of mind…” “There is no fault in the Governor’s actions. The facts narrated need investigation. The petition is dismissed,” the court said.
The court subsequently also dismissed a plea by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Chief Minister, to stay its order for two weeks. The judge said he could not stay his own order.
The High Court’s ruling means the lower court can now initiate legal proceedings against the Chief Minister, which will include filing a first information report and ramp up pressure on Siddaramaiah.
The High Court had earlier directed the trial court to take no action till its verdict.
Ahead of the verdict, security had been beefed up around his residence and the police were told to be on high alert to avert “untoward incidents”, underlining the political tension over the alleged land scam.
Shortly after the verdict the Bharatiya Janata Party – which has targeted the Congress government and Siddaramaiah in this matter – was up in arms, demanding, again, the Chief Minister quit. BY Vijayendra, the BJP’s state unit chief, demanded Siddaramaiah “resign immediately, without further delay”.
The Congress – for whom the verdict has been seen as a setback, particularly with the Haryana election next week – has backed Siddaramaiah, with his deputy, DK Shivakumar, alleging “a big conspiracy”.