Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 5: Reacting to the recent filing of an appeal writ petition against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, C.S. Ponnanna, the Legal Advisor to CM Siddaramaiah and a legislator, stated on Wednesday that the petitioner has every right to appeal, and they will contest the case in a legal manner.

Addressing the media, Ponnanna explained, "The law permits appeals or revisions, and the petitioner in the MUDA case has the right to file an appeal, as long as it is maintainable. We have consistently emphasized our full respect for the legal process and the decisions made by the courts. If the petitioner is following due process, there is no objection from our side, and we have no issue with that."

However, Ponnanna criticized the politicization of the issue, stating, “The concern here is that the matter is being turned into a political issue for personal gain, which we strongly condemn. We oppose this approach. The petitioner has accused the Lokayukta police of collusion, but it was he who initially approached the Lokayukta seeking an investigation. A High Court-appointed judge, along with senior officers like the ADGP and IGP, oversaw the probe. Now, he wants to politicize their actions. The legal proceedings should not be mixed with politics, and we will legally defend ourselves in this matter.”

When asked about the current status of the MUDA case, Ponnanna clarified, "The final report is currently before the court, which can decide to accept the closure report, take cognizance, or even order further investigation. The court has multiple options, and the next steps will depend on what the complainant decides to do. At this point, we are uncertain about their intentions."

In response to a query about the transfer of the MUDA investigation to the CBI, Ponnanna reiterated, “The court has already quashed the appeal for a CBI probe, and that decision is final. It is the law of the land, and it must be respected. Neither the accused nor the complainant can dictate the choice of the investigating agency. That’s the established legal procedure.”

Meanwhile, Snehamayi Krishna, the petitioner in the MUDA case, claimed in Mysuru on Wednesday that several Congress leaders, unable to pursue the issue directly, have been supporting his fight by providing key documents related to the case in which CM Siddaramaiah is accused.
"Some Congress leaders, who can't directly contest this, are pushing this battle through me. They have provided me with critical documents," Krishna asserted.

Krishna emphasized that his struggle is not only focused on CM Siddaramaiah but extends to ensuring a thorough investigation into all illegalities in the MUDA case. "Anyone who has unlawfully obtained site allotments under the 50:50 ratio must be held accountable," he demanded.

In a significant development regarding the MUDA case, Krishna filed a writ petition before the Karnataka High Court division bench on Wednesday, challenging the single bench’s order that quashed his appeal for a CBI investigation into the case.