Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke to reporters on Tuesday regarding his wife, BM Parvathi's decision to return 14 compensatory land plots received from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). He stated that she was a "victim of the politics of hate" directed at him and that her "surprise move" aimed to shield him from embarrassment amid the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) money laundering case related to the MUDA 'scam.'
Siddaramaiah insisted that there was no basis for the money laundering allegations, asserting that his legal team would vigorously defend against the ED's actions. He mentioned that his wife was distressed by the situation and chose to return the land to avoid further controversy.
In a tweet earlier, he expressed similar sentiments, stating that his wife had always stayed out of the political spotlight during his four-decade career. He described her as suffering "psychological torture" from the political attacks against him, adding, "I am sorry," while respecting her decision to return the plots.
The Chief Minister explained that the land plots had been a gift from Parvathi's brother, but after MUDA encroached on the property, it sought compensation. "We asked for compensation for different land, but MUDA decided to allocate these plots in Vijaynagar," he clarified. He attributed the ensuing controversy to a political conspiracy targeting his family.
Siddaramaiah reiterated his innocence in the case and accused former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa of denotifying the land in question. He concluded by stating, "There is no transaction. There is no paperwork. I have acted according to my conscience, so there is no question of me resigning."