‘Let political battles be fought among electorate’: SC rejects ED plea in MUDA case; asks ‘why are you being used?’ | India News
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea challenging a Karnataka high court order that had quashed proceedings against B.M. Parvathi, wife of Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment case.A bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran refused to entertain the petition, making an oral observation remarked, “Let political battles be fought amongst the electorate. Why are you (ED) being used for it?,” as quoted by ANI.“Mr Raju (Additional Solicitor General S V Raju who was appearing for the ED), please don’t compel us to open our mouths. Otherwise, we will be forced to make some harsh comments about the ED. Unfortunately, I have some experience in Maharashtra. Don’t perpetuate this violence across the country. Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used,” the CJI said. The case involves allegations that Parvathi received 14 high-value compensatory plots in Mysuru, allegedly worth around Rs 56 crore, in return for a 3.2-acre parcel of land that MUDA had acquired from her. The land was originally gifted to her by her brother in 2010.Justice has prevailed and ED interference has been put to an end in MUDA case: SiddaramaiahChief minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the apex court’s decision calling it “a step towards justice and a blow to politically motivated interference.”Citing media reports, the statement read: “Supreme Court upholds judgment of the high court quashing ED notice in Parvathi and Byrathi Suresh MUDA Case. SLPs dismissed. Court cautioned about making adverse remarks against ED. They stated that matter must not be politicised. Fight your battles before the electorate. Dismissed as they find no fault in the learned single judge’s order. Justice has prevailed and ED interference has been put to an end in MUDA case.”The controversy erupted after the ED issued summons to Parvathi and state Urban Development Minister B.S. Suresha. In March, the Karnataka high court had set aside the summons, terming them unsustainable. Parvathi, in her defence, had said through senior advocate Sandesh Chouta: “I am the wife of the CM. I have a moral responsibility to ensure that such allegations should be doused. I returned (the 14 sites) to the rightful authority and that cannot be admittance of guilt.”Opposition parties have claimed the scam could be as high as Rs 4,000 crore, alleging large-scale irregularities in the allocation of compensatory sites by MUDA.
