MUDA case: Desai panel gives clean chit to Siddaramaiah’s family

The commission headed by retired judge P.N. Desai has given a clean chit to the family of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA site “scam”.

The family had been accused of being a part in the illegal alternative site allotment “scam” that took place in Mysuru between 2020 and 2024. The commission concluded that the allotment of sites as compensation cannot be termed as illegal.

The report recommends legal action against officials responsible for the “scam”.

Parvathi, wife of Mr. Siddaramaiah, had received 14 sites in the upscale Vijayanagar area as compensation to about 3.16 acres in survey number 464 in Kesare village that had been utilised by MUDA without acquisition. This had raised a political storm.

“In respect of utilisation of de-notified land in survey number 464 of Kesare village, though the land owner insisted on alternative un-developed land as compensation and although the resolution was also passed in 2017, the same has not been implemented. Subsequently, in 2022, sites were allotted in the ratio of 50:50 as per one of the modes of payment adopted in the same manner as allotted to others,” the commission said in its findings.

This came after the Cabinet delved on it on Thursday and decided to accept the report. The excerpts released to the media do not mention any names, including those from the family of Mr. Siddaramaiah or of the bureaucracy.

Legality of possession

The commission further said, citing legality of possession, “The allotment of sites as compensation to the land owners whose lands were denotified but utilised by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) pertaining to lands in survey number 115/22 and 115/42 of Kergalli village and the land in survey number 464 of Kesare village cannot be said to be illegal. Therefore, the methods followed by the authority for compensating in the form of sites in case of utilisation of denotified lands cannot be said unlawful since MUDA does not have any title and legal possession over the denotified land.”

The commission observed that in the absence of any rule or law, or guidelines by the government to give sites in the form of compensation, allotment of alternative sites is one of the modes by MUDA. “This has been done even in cases where land utilised without acquisition though rule is not applicable and the same cannot be faulted.”

It found that 72 acres and 34 guntas have been used by MUDA without acquisition process, and due to delayed payment of compensation, in cases that extended three to four decades, the authority incurred huge monetary losses.

Most of these cases are in Hinkal and Devanur villages. The commission has also recommended the need for framing rules about allotment of sites in respect to the lands utilised by MUDA without acquisition.

The commission found that alternative sites have been allotted without proper verification of physical existence of such sites.

“MUDA commissioners have not bothered about formation of layout and allotment of sites in accordance with KUDA Act. Commissioners working between 2020 and 2024 have arbitrarily and illegally allotted sites at their whims and fancies. Alternative site allotment were in contravention of Rule 16 of 1991 rules. There appears to be a scam in providing alternative sites with unteneble reasons. The requests, in some cases coming after decades, have been seen between 2020 and 2024.”

Cancel illegal allotments

Recommending cancellation of all illegal allotment of sites, the commission said that a thorough investigation is needed by a technical team.

“As many as 1,095 sites issued based on office memos (for internal communication). In some cases, OMs were issued but registered deeds not executed. Thirty to 40 sites were allotted illegally to one person, who has no right for compensation. The then Commissioners defied directions of the government in allotment of sites, which need to be cancelled. Take action against erring officials,” it said.