Even though CM Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati has returned those 14 flats to Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) after ED registered a case of money laundering in the MUDA case, CM Siddaramaiah’s troubles are not decreasing.
According to the media reports, ED may soon send summons to CM Siddaramaiah in this case and call him for questioning. A senior ED official said that acquiring property illegally is a crime under the Money Laundering Prevention Act (PMLA). During the investigation, there is also a provision of punishment for the culprits who acquire property illegally (money laundering) in this law.
He said that under the law, money laundering will be investigated in the MUDA case and whoever is found guilty will be charged in the court. At the same time, PMLA law gives ED the right to confiscate the property acquired illegally. However, in this case, ED can refrain from confiscating 14 flats.
Since the illegally acquired property was returned to MUDA. According to the senior officer, the Lokayukta police is investigating this case under the Anti-Corruption Act and the ED’s investigation is limited only to money laundering. He said that soon all the accused including CM Siddaramaiah will be called for questioning in this case.
Meanwhile, this development comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) booking CM Siddaramaiah, Parvathi, and others in a money laundering case linked to the MUDA land case, following a recent Lokayukta FIR. The Congress has hit back at the Centre, accusing it of using central agencies like the ED for political harassment. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh commented, ‘It is no secret that the ED has become an instrument of harassment, vendetta, revenge, and vengeance on his political opponents by the non-biological PM’.
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