(Image source from: Indiatoday.in)

The Enforcement Directorate has seized more than 140 properties worth around Rs 300 crore in a money laundering case linked to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The attached properties are registered in the names of various real estate businessmen and agents. It is alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah used his political influence to get compensation worth Rs 56 crore for 14 sites in his wife's name, in exchange for 3 acres and 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA. The chief minister has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the allegations are politically motivated.

The agency stated that Parvathi was illegally granted compensation sites. Their investigation found that MUDA had allotted a large number of sites, beyond the 14 given to Parvathi, to real estate businessmen as compensation. These businessmen then sold the sites at huge profits, generating significant undeclared cash. This profit was allegedly laundered and presented as legitimate income. The sites were allotted under the names of "benami and dummy" individuals associated with influential people and real estate businesses. The raids uncovered evidence of illegal payments, in the form of property, sites, and cash, made to the former MUDA chairman and commissioner. It was also discovered that money was channeled through a cooperative society to purchase property and luxury vehicles in the name of relatives of the previous MUDA commissioner, G T Dinesh Kumar.