MUDA CASE: Lokayukta Gets Nod for Further Probe

Special court keeps closure report pending, says ED aggrieved person to an extent, but cannot file protest petition at this stage

- YATHIRAJU @ Bengaluru

The special court for trial of criminal cases against sitting and former MPs/MLAs on Tuesday kept the decision pending, for now, on accepting or rejecting the 'B' report (closure report) by the Lokayukta police giving a clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family members in the MUDA case. It permitted the Lokayukta to conduct further investigation into the role of other accused and file a conclusive report on or before May 7, 2025, the next date of hearing.

The court said the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is also considered an aggrieved person to a limited extent and no order is passed on permitting it to file a protest petition at this stage. This is because the closure report is neither accepted nor rejected, it added.

Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat kept answers for following three questions pending: Whether the complainant has made out grounds to set aside 'B' final report; what would be the appropriate procedure to be adopted and whether ED can be permitted to come on record and file necessary objections to the 'B' final report.