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News18
21-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
MUDA Case: SC Ruling Brings Relief For Siddaramaiah Amid Power-Sharing Dispute With Shivakumar
The order, which criticised the ED for being used in political battles, has landed in CM Siddaramaiah's favour at a time when his hold over the CM's chair was being questioned The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Karnataka High Court's ruling, which quashed the ED's plea to issue notices and summon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife BM Parvathi in the MUDA land allotment case, has brought temporary legal relief and fresh political momentum. For Siddaramaiah, the timing could not have been more strategic. The pressure from his deputy DK Shivakumar's camp to honour an 'unwritten" power-sharing formula has been intense. The Supreme Court order, which criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for being used in political battles, has landed squarely in Siddaramaiah's favour, strengthening his position just when his hold over the chief minister's chair was being questioned. 'This is a shot in the arm. The timing couldn't be better," said a close aide of Siddaramaiah, as talk of a mid-term transfer of power to Shivakumar resurfaced in party circles. At the heart of the controversy is the decision to allot 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to BM Parvathi as compensation for land inherited from her family and acquired by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Although this decision was made during the BJP's tenure, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India flagged procedural irregularities, opening the door for political attacks. The issue escalated when the ED entered the scene, summoning Parvathi and minister Byrathi Suresh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This brought the fight to the chief minister's doorstep, marking the first time a member of his family was directly in the spotlight. For someone who has built his reputation on a clean image without corruption charges, the MUDA case damaged his image. Even within the Congress, there were murmurs about whether he had slipped. The Supreme Court, however, firmly dismissed the ED's appeal while the Chief Justice of India (CJI) made a blunt remark: 'Let political battles be fought amongst the electorate. Why are you being used for it?" Siddaramaiah called it the 'slap of justice" on the face of the BJP and accused the Centre of engineering a political vendetta. The emotional tone of his response, that the case caused 'immense mental distress" to his family, was also politically calculated. He is once again positioning himself as the Congress CM who can stare down the BJP. A senior Congress leader, on condition of anonymity, said: 'He's the only one who can look Modi in the eye and say what he wants. The CBI and ED can't touch him as he has remained non-corrupt, and this verdict reinforces that image. He'll use this to raise his profile in the state as well as nationally." In Delhi, the messaging has been equally clear. At the recent Congress OBC Advisory Council meeting in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah not only presided but did so with the weight of someone not planning to exit. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior Congress leaders pronounced Siddaramaiah as the CM, while insiders said that he made it clear to the high command, during the closed-door meetings, that he will abide by their decision but hopes to finish his five-year term. The Shivakumar factor, however, remains unresolved. What will be the stance when the high command asks Siddaramaiah to hand over the reins to his current deputy? At a Sadhana Samavesha event in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah's refusal to even name his deputy on stage raised eyebrows and confirmed what many have suspected. When reminded by a party worker to include Shivakumar's name in his speech, he said: 'DK Shivakumar is in Bengaluru and not on stage. We only welcome those present here. We cannot extend greetings to someone sitting at home." It wasn't just irritation. It was a signal. With pressure building from Shivakumar's supporters and talk of rotation agreements resurfacing, Siddaramaiah's very public rebuke made one thing clear: he's not going anywhere. The MUDA case had put Siddaramaiah in a tight spot, not just as CM, but on a personal level. It also came at a time when he took over the reins as the Congress CM for the second time, particularly as a strong OBC leader alongside Kharge. The fact that it involved his wife, even if the land was later returned, complicated the narrative and the 'clean record" he had spent years cultivating. 'The best part about Siddaramaiah is his moral clarity. He's never wavered from his support for marginalised communities and backward classes. He represents a voice that has long been ignored and maligned," said political analyst Harish Ramaswamy. 'Unlike many OBC leaders, Lalu and others, who've been tainted by scams, Siddaramaiah has largely kept a clean image. That's what gives him the moral strength to challenge even PM Modi." Ramaswamy said in the MUDA case, too, his wife should have avoided the allotment altogether. 'That is one visible weak spot. When I've met him, even in his own home, it's clear that he keeps his wife away from public life. So, this case came as a surprise. Fourteen sites allotted to her raised questions. It perplexed many," he said. So, will the Supreme Court ruling help him in the long run? It looks like. 'It definitely will. He's the kind of leader who knows how to use a moment like this. He speaks his mind, takes on the RSS and BJP openly, and nobody can intimidate him, not the CBI, not any agency, as he prides himself on his clean, corruption-free image," he added. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : muda scam Siddaramaiah view comments Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 00:58 IST News politics MUDA Case: SC Ruling Brings Relief For Siddaramaiah Amid Power-Sharing Dispute With Shivakumar Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After Super Court verdict in Muda case, Siddaramaiah demands apology from BJP & JD(S)
Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah Monday demanded a public apology from BJP and JD(S) after the Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka high court's decision to quash an Enforcement Directorate (ED) notice issued to his wife BM Parvathi in connection with the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case. "If BJP and JD(S) functionaries have even a shred of dignity and self-respect left, they must immediately offer a public apology," Siddaramaiah said. Siddaramaiah pointed out that besides "continuously making baseless allegations" against him and his family, BJP and JD(S) held a padaytara from Bengaluru to Mysuru seeking an investigation into the case. Siddaramaiah welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict, saying: "The SC's historic order dismissing ED's appeal seeking to investigate my wife, Parvathi, is a resounding blow to the central govt. Throughout my long political career, I have always bowed before the Constitution and the law. The SC has upheld and protected this belief through its verdict." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Accusing BJP and JD(S) of "weaponizing" investigative agencies to target him, Siddaramaiah said, "BJP and its ally JD(S), unable to confront me politically, have misused constitutional investigative agencies like CBI and ED to fabricate a false case against my wife. The harassment inflicted through such politically motivated actions is deeply deplorable. I will never forget the mental agony and harassment that my family and I endured because of this. " Siddaramaiah added that the SC's remarks personally resonated with him and reflected a broader sentiment among the public. "What the SC has said truly echoes my view — political battles must be fought using the electorate, not by misusing constitutional agencies like ED," he said. These words reflect the opinion of every conscientious Indian who believes in the Constitution. This verdict has brought peace and restored faith in the judiciary among all those who, over the last 10-11 years, have suffered due to the misuse of the I-T, CBI, and ED by the central govt and BJP in their pursuit of political vendetta. " He added: "After this eye-opening order, PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah must wake up and restore the autonomy that these institutions are meant to have and cleanse themselves of their sins."
