MYSURU: A three-member Lokayukta team interrogated Wednesday Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) land allotment case, making him the second politician after BJP's B S Yediyurappa to be questioned by the agency while holding office. Siddaramaiah was questioned for just about two hours, a month after his wife Parvathi had been questioned over being allotted 14 prime plots in Mysuru as part of a controversial land-swap deal. The CM and his wife, who has since returned the land, are accused Nos 1 and 2 in the case.
"My wife returned the plots not because of any wrongdoing but due to the false allegations against me. I have no documents related to this Muda case, nor was any document sought from me. Until a decision is made in court, these are just false allegations made by BJP and JD(S)," Siddaramaiah said.
Led by SP T J Udesha, the Lokayukta team asked "25-30 questions, which the CM answered consistently", an officer privy to the interrogation said. The team videorecorded the session in accordance with legal protocol. MLA A S Ponanna, Siddaramaiah's legal adviser, was by his side from the time he arrived at the Lokayukta office in Mysuru around 10am.
He entered the office at 10.09am and left at 12.07pm.
BJP termed the investigation "scripted" and accused the Lokayukta of "match-fixing". Leader of the opposition R Ashoka said Siddaramaiah knew he would be questioned for less than two hours, based on his engagements later in the d.
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