Bengaluru:  In yet another serious trouble for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who has been booked by the Lokayukta Police in connection with the MUDA alternative site allotment mega scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) against the CM under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) in connection with alleged works to the tune of Rs. 387 crore in Varuna and Srirangapatna Assembly Segments using MUDA money.

The ED has registered the ECIR, which is equivalent to the Police FIR,  following a Complaint lodged by P.S. Nataraj, a resident of Brindavan Extension and a former MUDA Urban Planning Assistant Director, with the Governor on Aug. 27, charging that MUDA money was illegally used for carrying out works in Varuna and Srirangapatna Segments.

Varuna Segment is represented by Siddaramaiah while Srirangapatna Segment is represented by Rameshbabu Bandisiddegowda of the Congress.

Following the registration of the case, the ED officials can summon the CM and other accused for an enquiry by issuing notices. The ED currently has the executive power to arrest the accused if found necessary and can even seize their properties if required. The ED can also raid the residence and offices of the accused as well as their associates, friends and relatives, for gathering evidence as part of the enquiry.

Details: Following an oral instruction from CM Siddaramaiah, the MUDA had taken up development works amounting to Rs. 387 crore in Varuna and Srirangapatna Assembly Constituencies.

The works were taken up after MUDA at its meeting held on Sept. 6, 2023, passed a resolution to this effect based on the oral instructions of the CM, which was approved by the Government. Subsequently, several development works were carried out in 24 villages of Varuna Constituency as well as in several villages of Srirangapatna Assembly Segment.

Sensing something fishy, P.S. Nataraj lodged a complaint with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Aug. 27 claiming that Govt. money was going waste and as such the concerned officials must be booked for misuse of money.

Following the complaint, Governor Gehlot wrote a letter to State Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on Sept. 5 stating that the allegations were serious in nature and sought a report on the works being carried out in Varuna and Srirangapatna Segments. Now, the ED has registered an ECIR in this regard                               against the CM.