Victim of Hate Politics”, Says Siddaramaiah After Wife Returns Controversial Plots Amid Allegations 

By
Neha Shukla
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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed on Tuesday that his wife, Parvathi, has returned 14 compensatory plots in an upscale area of Mysuru, following allegations of illegalities in their allotment. The decision comes amidst growing political pressure from opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has called for Siddaramaiah’s resignation.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Siddaramaiah accused the opposition of dragging his family into the controversy to malign his reputation. “My wife, Parvathi, who has never interfered in my political career, has become a victim of a political conspiracy,” he said, expressing his surprise at her decision to return the sites. He added that Parvathi was deeply affected by the “psychological torture” brought on by the controversy but stated he respected her choice.

The plots in question were given to Parvathi as compensation for 3 acres and 16 guntas of land in Kesare village that had been seized by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Allegations arose that the compensatory land in Vijayanagar was in a prime location with higher property values, sparking claims of unfair advantage.

Following Parvathi’s decision, MUDA announced it would accept the return of the plots. MUDA Commissioner Raghunandan said, “We won’t decline if someone returns MUDA property, we have already discussed this.”

The controversy intensified after the Karnataka Lokayukta police registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah on the orders of a special court, naming him, Parvathi, and others. The charges include criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also initiated a money laundering case based on the Lokayukta FIR.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the return of the plots as an “admission of guilt” and reiterated the demand for Siddaramaiah’s resignation. “If no wrongdoing was involved, why return the sites after the High Court’s orders, the special court’s decision, and the filing of an FIR?” Poonawalla questioned, calling the move a tactic to evade further investigation.