Lokayukta grills CM’s kin, Devaraju for 9hrs in Muda case

Mysuru: Lokayukta police, one of the two agencies investigating the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) land allotment scam, Thursday questioned CM Siddaramaiah's brother-in-law BM Mallikarjuna Swamy and land-owner J Devaraju for more than nine hours.
Swamy, the third accused, and Devaraju, the fourth accused, were questioned separately about allegations of creation of fraudulent documents and violation of the law regarding land purchase.
Devaraju arrived at the Lokayukta office at 10.45am, followed by Swamy at 11.30am. Their interrogation continued until 9pm, with both men providing statements and evidence. Their accounts were crosschecked. Devaraju, after questioning, said he had shared necessary information with the investigators.
The case revolves around the disputed transfer of three acres and 16 guntas of land in Kesare, Mysuru, through a sale deed from Devaraju to Swamy in 2005. There are claims that Devaraju did not possess the legal title at the time of the land sale, as his nephew contends. The land was later transferred to Parvathi, Siddaramaiah's wife and Swamy's younger sister, in 2010 when Swamy gifted the property to her.
It is alleged Devaraju is not the genuine owner of the land. Regarding the ownership of the land, fake documents were allegedly created to hand it over to CM Siddaramaiah's family. It is also alleged conversion, acquisition of the land and allotment of 14 sites at upscale Vijayanagar locality in Mysuru is being done in favour of CM Siddaramaiah's family.
The controversy stems from Parvathi seeking compensation from Muda after the urban body took over the land for layout development. In 2020, she was awarded 14 sites as compensation, leading to allegations of office misuse by Siddaramaiah. Facing opposition pressure, Parvathi returned the sites earlier this month.
Lokayukta investigation, led by SP TJ Udesh and DSPs Malthesh and Mathew Thomas, is set to conclude by Dec 25, making Thursday's questioning of the two accused crucial.
According to sources, Lokayukta police are scrutinizing the acquisition of the land title and possession in Kesare. The matter is also being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). One of the petitioners, Snehamayi Krishna, has approached the court seeking a CBI probe into the MUDA scam.
Petitioner Snehamayi Krishna had stated he does "not have trust" in the Lokayukta institution which comes under the state govt and officers of Lokayukta won't be able to investigate the prime accused in the case, CM Siddaramaiah.