A judicial commission has cleared Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment case, which had stirred significant political controversy in the state. The commission, led by retired judge P.N. Desai, submitted its report, which was subsequently accepted by the Karnataka cabinet.

The MUDA case revolved around allegations of illegal allotment of 14 residential sites to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi B.M., in an upscale area of Mysuru. These allotments were purportedly made as compensation for 3.16 acres of land acquired by MUDA. The controversy centered on claims that Parvathi B.M. did not possess legal title to the land in question, and that it was a gift from her brother, Mallikarjuna Swamy, who allegedly purchased it from J. Devaraju. The allocated plots were estimated to be worth ₹56 crore.

The allegations led to a political uproar, with opposition BJP leaders demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation. The Karnataka Lokayukta had previously filed a closure report, citing insufficient evidence against the Chief Minister, his wife, and others. However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly suggested that evidence related to denotification and site allotments had been overlooked. The Karnataka High Court is expected to hear the matter in November.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil informed reporters that the Justice P.N. Desai Commission's report made it clear that there was no truth to the allegations against the Chief Minister and his family. The commission concluded that the allotment of sites as compensation could not be deemed illegal. However, the report also recommended legal action against officials responsible for irregularities within MUDA.

Specifically, the commission recommended the cancellation of all illegal site allotments, suggesting a thorough investigation by a technical team. It noted that approximately 1,095 sites were issued based on office memos, with some cases lacking registered deeds. The commission also found instances where 30 to 40 sites were illegally allotted to single individuals without proper compensation rights and that commissioners had defied government directions.

The commission's report also addressed the lack of specific rules governing compensation for lands used by MUDA without due acquisition. It noted that MUDA had been utilizing two compensation methods: land and sites. MUDA informed the commission that it had used 72.34 acres of land without acquisition. In the case of de-notified land in Kesare village, the landowner had requested undeveloped land as compensation, and although a resolution was passed in 2017, it was not implemented. Subsequently, in 2022, sites were allotted in a 50:50 ratio, consistent with other payment methods.

In addition to the MUDA case, the Karnataka cabinet is also expected to review a report by the Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission, which reveals irregularities within the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) during the BJP's tenure.