The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for an investigation into alleged illegalities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.

The case revolves around accusations that MUDA illegally allotted 14 prime sites in Mysuru to Siddaramaiah’s wife. The Governor had granted approval for the probe following applications from Bengaluru-based activists Pradeep Kumar SP, TJ Abraham, and Mysuru-based activist Snehamayi Krishna.

The single-judge bench of Justice Nagaprasanna ruled that the Governor’s order sanctioning the investigation did not suffer from a “non-application of mind.” Siddaramaiah had filed a petition questioning the legality of the sanction, arguing that it violated Section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Governor Gehlot’s sanction, granted on August 17, was scrutinized following the activists’ claims that the allotment of the sites was carried out illegally. Although the High Court had provided temporary relief to Siddaramaiah on August 19 by directing the special court in Bengaluru to delay further proceedings, today’s dismissal opens the path for legal action to move forward.

In its defense, the office of the Karnataka Governor said on August 31 that the sanction to prosecute was granted only after due consideration and careful application of mind.

(Inputs from ANI)