Cases That Dominated K'taka Politics This Year

The Karnataka politics was embroiled in allegations of corruption and sexual harassment against leaders across parties in 2024.

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU:

One of the major corruption cases was the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation, where funds designated for tribal welfare were allegedly siphoned off.

Accusations pointed to unauthorized transfers of ₹94.73 crore by eight officials from Union Bank of India's MG Road branch.

The case escalated following the suicide of one of the officials, who left a note implicating corporation officials and cited "oral instructions" from a minister's office.

This revelation led to the arrest of cabinet minister B Nagendra by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Nagendra, after being released on bail, alleged that the ED pressured him to implicate chief minister Siddaramaiah.

Another big corruption case was the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment irregularities case. The controversy revolved around a 50:50 land exchange scheme introduced during the BJP's tenure, which critics claimed facilitated favouritism.

Fourteen high-value plots in a prime Mysuru locality were allocated to beneficiaries under questionable circumstances.

Parvathi, one of the recipients, returned the plots following public outrage.

The high court permitted a probe into alleged irregularities in the MUDA allocations and directed the Lokayukta police to submit a status report.

A petition filed by activist Snehamayi Krishna highlighted potential misuse of the scheme, intensifying calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.

In response to the allegations, Siddaramaiah denied any wrongdoing, asserting that neither he nor his family members had any role in the controversy.

Allegations of mismanagement during the Covid-19 pandemic by the previous BJP regime was another case that raised an uproar in the state politics.