Amid accusations of irregularities, MUDA commissioner shunted out

MYSURU: Barely 24 hours after urban development minister Byrathi Suresh ordered an investigation into irregularities in allotment of alternative sites by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), the govt on Tuesday shunted out MUDA commissioner GT Dinesh Kumar.
Kumar was replaced by AN Raghunandan, a KAS officer who previously worked in the urban development department.MUDA secretary GD Shekhar has also been transferred out, with KAS officer VK Prasanna Kumar taking his place.
The urban body is currently under scrutiny following allegations of large-scale irregularities in allotment of alternative sites under the 50:50 scheme. The issue has taken political overtones with the opposition accusing the govt of trying to hush up a ‘scam’.
Congress MLC Yathindra denied claims by BJP’s AH Vishwanath that he is involved. “Unlike Vishwanath, I am not a member of MUDA,” Yathindra said. “If he has doubts, he can procure details from the urban body. But he is trying to damage my reputation by dragging my name into this.”
Yathindra pointed out that chief minister Siddaramaiah, also his father, and minister Suresh were taking action to get to the bottom of the case and emphasised that the “scam” occurred when BJP was at the helm. “People will soon learn the truth,” he said.
Congress spokesperson M Lakshmana also lambasted BJP and JD(S), saying they dragged Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, into the alleged scam without any evidence of wrongdoing.
“MUDA acquired 1,48,104 sqft of land she owned and it should have allotted her 74,052 sqft as per the 50:50 ratio. She was allotted sites measuring 38,284sq ft in Vijaynagar III Stage during the BJP govt’s tenure,” Laksh mana said. He asserted MUDA allotted her the land in accordance with govt and high court directives.
‘Hush up the case’
In response, Krishnaraja MLA TS Srivatsa of BJP accused minister Suresh of attempting to “cover up the scam” by transferring officials and appointing lowprofile IAS officers to investigate the case. He criticised the minister for not informing him about his visit to MUDA on Monday, saying, “Had he informed me about the meeting at MUDA, I would have handed over the documents to him.”
Srivatsa demanded a SIT probe and wondered why Siddaramaiah has not treated the MUDA scam seriously despite it involving Rs 2,500 crore. He contrasted it with the resignation of ST welfare minister B Nagendra over an alleged Rs 87 crore scam.
Srivatsa, a member of the urban body, insisted on a thorough investigation if irregularities occurred during the BJP govt’s tenure. He pledged to provide relevant documents to the party’s state unit chief BY Vijayendra and opposition leader R Ashoka.