Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's appeal against Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's decision sanctioning his prosecution in the alleged MUDA land scam. Justice M Nagaprasanna emphasized that the Governor had "applied his mind in abundance" and made an autonomous decision. The court stated the sanction order "does not suffer from non-application of mind" and found no fault in the Governor's actions, ruling that the facts warranted investigation. Consequently, Siddaramaiah's petition was rejected.
The court also denied a request by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Chief Minister, to stay its order for two weeks, noting that such a stay was beyond the court's purview.
This ruling paves the way for the lower court to begin legal proceedings against Siddaramaiah, including filing a first information report, heightening the pressure on the Chief Minister. Security measures had been intensified around Siddaramaiah's residence before the verdict, reflecting the political sensitivity of the case.
In response to the court's decision, Siddaramaiah reaffirmed his trust in the judicial system, stating, "I believe in the law and the Constitution... The truth will finally win."
The opposing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been vigorously criticizing the Congress government and Siddaramaiah over the issue, promptly renewed its calls for the Chief Minister's resignation. BJP state unit chief BY Vijayendra demanded Siddaramaiah "resign immediately, without further delay.""