THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Bengaluru, April 2: Challenging the Lokayukta police’s decision to close the MUDA site allotment case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a protest petition against the report that cleared Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, and others.
The agency approached the Special Court for MPs and MLAs, asserting that it has the right to contest the report as an aggrieved party.
The ED emphasized that money laundering poses a serious threat to the financial system, national integrity, and sovereignty. Citing the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the agency argued that the state is a victim of such offences and, as prosecutors under the law, they have the authority to intervene before the court rules on the closure report.
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According to the petition, offences related to money laundering and predicate crimes are closely connected, making the ED an integral part of the investigation. The agency further stated that it had shared crucial evidence with the Lokayukta police during the probe, reinforcing its role in the case.
Meanwhile, the Lokayukta police, in their final report submitted to the High Court, concluded that the allegations against CM Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, his brother-in-law, and landowner Devaraju could not be substantiated due to a lack of evidence.
In a letter to activist and complainant Snehamayi Krishna, the police confirmed that their findings did not support the accusations.
The court will now decide whether to admit the ED’s protest petition and proceed with further hearings in the case.
