Muda case: Karnataka HC verdict today on CM Siddaramaiah's plea against governor's probe nod

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court will pronounce its verdict at 12 noon Tuesday on the petition filed by chief minister Siddaramaiah challenging the approval granted by governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot to investigate him in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) alternative-site allotment case.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who heard the matter in August, had reserved his decision on September 12. The judge had specified that the interim order granted on August 19 -- wherein the trial court was directed not to take any precipitative action against Siddaramaiah -- will continue till the disposal of his petition.

On August 17, the governor had accorded sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, citing three applications. The complainants had alleged that the CM had misused his official position for allotment of alternative sites in his wife's name on the strength of certain fake documents in the layout formed by MUDA.

Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Ravivarma Kumar argued on behalf of Siddaramaiah, claiming the governor could not have gone against the advice tendered by the state cabinet.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta had appeared on behalf of the governor's office and submitted that merely because the CM didn't attend the cabinet meeting that made the recommendation to the governor to withdraw the show-cause notice, it will not absolve him as the council of ministers is appointed as per his advice and there is an element of bias there. On this score, the governor is fully justified in not acting as per the advice of the cabinet.