Union Minister asks CM Siddaramaiah to “cooperate” in investigation after Governor grants permission to prosecute him

Hubballi-Dharwad (Karnataka) [India], August 17 (ANI): After Karnataka Governor granted permission to prosecute Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA scam, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi asked Siddaramaiah to cooperate in the investigation and step down as Chief Minister.

“After taking all aspects into account and opinion of legal experts, the Governor has given sanction for the prosecution of CM Siddaramaiah. It is a due process of law. CM Siddaramaiah should cooperate with the investigation agencies and judiciary. He should step down as Chief Minister.”

While responding to the recent development Siddaramaiah said on that the entire State cabinet is standing with him. “The entire Cabinet, party high command, all MLAs, MLCs, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs are with me…,” he briefly told reporters here today.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot today granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA scam, according to the Raj Bhavan sources. Siddaramaiah has, however, been maintaining that “everything was done according to the law”.

On the other hand, the BJP is mounting pressure, demanding the resignation of the chief minister. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said that the CM “must resign to make way for an impartial investigation”.

Defending the governor’s move, BY Vijayendra who is the state BJP President, said that the governor has exercised his constitutional powers.

“The Hon’ble Governor has exercised his constitutional powers and allowed legal action to be taken against the chief minister’s Muda scam complaint,” he said in a post on X.

Earlier, a complaint was filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and nine others for allegedly forging documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).