In a significant development, the Karnataka Cabinet has accepted the findings of the PN Desai Commission, which has given a clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment case. The commission instead held several officials accountable for irregularities and recommended legal action against them.

Commission’s Findings in the MUDA Case

The one-member commission, headed by retired Justice PN Desai, was constituted to probe allegations that Siddaramaiah’s family benefited illegally from compensatory land allotments in Mysuru between 2020 and 2024.

The report clarified that the allotment of plots as compensation to landowners could not be termed illegal. Specifically, the case involved survey number 464 of Kesare village, where the original landowner had insisted on alternative undeveloped land as compensation. Although the proposal was passed in 2017, it was implemented only in 2022.

Justice Desai’s report noted that the 50-50 compensation formula, under which land losers received half the extent of developed land in exchange for undeveloped land acquired by MUDA, was applied to Siddaramaiah’s family in the same manner as it was for others.

Cabinet Accepts the Report

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil confirmed the Cabinet’s acceptance of the report and its recommendations. He stated:

“We had set up a commission under Justice PN Desai, which submitted its findings in two parts. The report makes it clear that the allegations against the Chief Minister and his family are baseless. At the same time, it has called for action against certain officials where irregularities were found. The Cabinet has accepted these recommendations.”

Allegations Against Siddaramaiah and His Family

The controversy centered on the allotment of 14 compensatory plots to Parvathy BM, Siddaramaiah’s wife, in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land in Kesare village. Critics alleged that the compensatory land, located in the upscale Vijayanagara layout of Mysuru, was of significantly higher market value compared to the land surrendered.

There were also claims that Parvathy did not hold valid ownership rights over the Kesare land. The Desai Commission examined these charges in detail and ruled out any wrongdoing, confirming that the allotments were made under the standard MUDA 50-50 scheme.

Prior Investigations Also Found No Wrongdoing

This is not the first time Siddaramaiah and his family have been cleared. The Lokayukta police, which previously investigated the case, had also found no evidence to substantiate the allegations.

The Desai Commission went further by examining MUDA’s functioning from 2006 until July 2024, ensuring a broader scrutiny of its land allotment practices.

Officials Under the Scanner

While Siddaramaiah and his family were exonerated, the report pointed out irregularities in MUDA’s processes carried out by certain officials. The commission has recommended legal and disciplinary action against those responsible, though the names of the officials have not yet been publicly disclosed.

Political Significance

The clean chit comes at a politically sensitive time, with opposition parties in Karnataka having targeted Siddaramaiah over the alleged scam. The Cabinet’s acceptance of the Desai Commission’s report is likely to bolster the Chief Minister’s position and put the spotlight back on systemic lapses within MUDA rather than personal corruption charges.