Non-bailable warrant against MUDA ‘scam’ complainant in cheque bounce case

A Mysuru court has issued a non-bailable warrant against social activist Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the alleged MUDA land 'scam', for failing to appear in a cheque bounce case.

Krishna was unable to attend the court on Tuesday (October 1) as he had to appear before the Lokayukta police following a notice issued to him by the investigation officers probing the MUDA site allotment case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others, sources close to him said.

"Krishna missed the appearance due to a scheduling conflict and vowed to attend the court soon," a source said.

MUDA land 'scam' case

The Lokayukta police have booked CM Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, and two others in the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) land allotment case on the directions of a special court based on Krishna’s petition.

A team of Lokayukta police probing the case on Tuesday surveyed the land, in lieu of which 14 sites were "illegally" allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in Mysuru.

The team that visited the 3.16 acre-land was joined by the special land acquisition officer, surveyors, and town planning members from the MUDA, official sources said, adding that Krishna was also present.

Also Read: Karnataka: Lokayukta police survey land in lieu of which CM's wife allotted 14 sites

FIR against Snehamayi Krishna for alleged harassment

Snehamayi Krishna, who is in the news for being the complainant against the chief minister in the alleged MUDA land scam, is a Right to Information activist in Karnataka. He had filed the complaint along with three others.

In addition to the cheque bounce case, Krishna has also been accused of harassing a woman in connection with a property dispute. She reportedly filed a complaint at the Nanjangud police station on August 21 this year, and an FIR was registered the same day. The case came to light only on Saturday (September 28).

The woman has accused Krishna and his relatives of physically assaulting her, pulling her clothes, and abusing her verbally on July 18, 2024 in her complaint. She alleged that Krishna, along with his father-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law had been harassing her over a property dispute. Krishna is the fourth accused in the case.

Krishna has denied the allegations, and called it an attempt to suppress his anti-corruption work.

Also Read: 'My wife a victim of hate politics', says Siddaramaiah after she returns 14 MUDA plots

Contentious MUDA sites

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi on Monday (September 30) wrote to the MUDA expressing her desire to surrender the14 sites allotted to her as compensation for the 3.16 acres of land belonging to her that had been used by the MUDA.

In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA.

The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout.

Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. It is also alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land.

Also Read: Karnataka: ED files case against Siddaramaiah in MUDA case

Governor’s sanction upheld

The Karnataka High Court had earlier upheld the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for a probe against the Chief Minister on allegations of illegalities in the allotment of the sites.

(With agency inputs)