MUDA chief K Marigowda quits citing health reasons amid row over Siddaramaiah land allotment case

The chief of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) K Marigowda resigned from his post on Wednesday citing health reasons. This comes in the wake of an ongoing probe into the allegations against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the Muda land allotment case.

In his resignation letter, Marigowda cited his health as the reason behind his exit. Later, while speaking to the reporters, Marigowda said he was asked by Siddaramaiah to resign from the post, Indian Express reported.

“I am not under any pressure. I am resigning due to health reasons. This is my personal decision. I have suffered a stroke twice and due to health concerns I put in my papers,” he said.

His role in allegations against Siddaramaiah had come under scanner following the MUDA row, with several Congress leaders learnt to have demanded his resignation over the issue.

Also Read: MUDA scam: Karnataka HC to pronounce order in Siddaramaiah’s plea against Governor’s sanction today

Marigowda, who highlighted his four-decade-long association with Siddaramaiah after his resignation, had claimed innocence over the entire episode recently after his fallout with the CM became public, IE reported.

What is the MUDA scam?

Specifically, the Karnataka CM faces allegations that his wife was allotted 14 plots of land – which he has said was a gift from her brother – in the upmarket Mysuru area of Vijayanagar as compensation for land elsewhere – holding a far lower value – taken for infrastructure projects.

Anti-corruption activists, who complaint about this to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, alleged that this caused a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state. Following this, the governor allowed prosecution of the CM over the irregularities.

The BJP called for Siddaramaiah’s resignation after the Karnataka High Court also dismissed his petition of challenging the legality of the Governor’s decision to prosecute him over alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scheme.

Also Read: What is the MUDA scam for which the Karnataka governor approved CM Siddaramaiah’s prosecution?

A trial court framed charges the next day, with the Lokayukta beginning its investigation almost immediately and the Enforcement Directorate filing its case shortly afterwards.

After a row erupted over these allegations, earlier this month, the Mysuru Urban Development Authority agreed to take back those 14 plots from the Chief Minister’s wife, BN Parvathi, but said this would have no bearing on the investigation.

The development came after BN Parvathi had written to MUDA saying she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it as the allegations against her husband are “politically motivated”.

MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout. However, activists alleged that the plot allotted to Parvathi had a higher property value as compared to the location of her land that was acquired by MUDA.