Supreme Court Queries Enforcement Directorate Regarding Role in Mysuru Land Scandal
In a significant ruling, the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvati have been cleared of all allegations in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case. A government-appointed judicial panel, led by retired High Court judge Justice P.N. Desai, found no illegality in the allotment of 14 alternative plots to Parvati and rejected claims of Siddaramaiah's misuse of office or involvement in irregularities (Times of India, 2025-08-01; Lokmat Times, 2025-07-31).
The case revolved around allegations that Parvati was allotted prime MUDA plots in exchange for land acquired by the authority, with the BJP claiming a ₹4,000 crore loss to the exchequer. However, Siddaramaiah maintained the compensation was lawful, and his wife later returned the allotted plots (Lokmat Times, 2025-07-31).
The Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging the Karnataka High Court's quashing of the ED summons to Parvati. The Chief Justice of India criticized the ED's involvement and warned against using investigative agencies for political battles (Business Standard, 2025-07-31; Lokmat Times, 2025-07-31; Instagram reel, 2025-08-04).
The judicial outcome and Supreme Court remarks have brought concerns regarding the role and accountability of the Enforcement Directorate in politically sensitive cases to the fore. The Supreme Court bench labeled certain ED actions as a “fraud on the system” and cautioned against the agency being used for political vendettas, reinforcing the principle that such disputes should be resolved through electoral and democratic processes rather than through investigative agency pressure (Instagram reel, 2025-08-04; Lokmat Times, 2025-07-31).
The ED had alleged that Parvati Siddaramaiah was the second accused in the Mysuru land scam and had received proceeds of crime through illegal allotment of plots. However, the Karnataka Lokayukta found no credible evidence to implicate either Siddaramaiah or Parvati in the Mysuru land scam (The Hindu, 2025-08-01).
The opposition parties accuse the BJP of using the Enforcement Directorate as a political weapon, particularly ahead of elections. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has coined the term "E-squared" to describe this alleged misuse of the Election Commission and the ED (NDTV, 2025-08-02).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that only three per cent of ED investigations involve politicians, with the rest targeting financial frauds, bureaucratic corruption, or organized crime. Legal experts suggest that the Mysuru land scam ruling may embolden other courts to closely examine ED actions against political leaders (The Indian Express, 2025-08-03).
The Mysuru land scam ruling has the potential to set an informal precedent for future political cases, underscoring demands for investigative agencies in India to maintain strict objectivity and avoid political misuse. The rebuke from the Supreme Court was delivered by Chief Justice BR Gavai, who warned the ED against being used for political battles, a warning that resonates strongly in a democracy gearing up for multiple elections.
References: - Business Standard (2025-07-31). "Supreme Court Quashes ED Summons to Siddaramaiah's Wife in Mysuru Land Scam Case." Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/supreme-court-quashes-ed-summons-to-siddaramaiah-s-wife-in-mysuru-land-scam-case-125573700168_1.html - The Hindu (2025-08-01). "Mysuru Land Scam: Lokayukta Clears Siddaramaiah, Wife." The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mysuru-land-scam-lokayukta-clears-siddaramaiah-wife/article65887468.ece - Lokmat Times (2025-07-31). "Mysuru Land Scam: Siddaramaiah, Wife Parvati Cleared by Lokayukta." Lokmat Times. https://www.lokmat.com/bengaluru/mysuru-land-scam-siddaramaiah-wife-parvati-cleared-by-lokayukta/articles/2025/07/31/1022316_3181336.html - NDTV (2025-08-02). "Abhishek Banerjee Accuses BJP of Misusing Election Commission, ED, Coins 'E-squared'." NDTV. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/abhishek-banerjee-accuses-bjp-of-misusing-election-commission-ed-coins-e-squared-3133021 - The Indian Express (2025-08-03). "Mysuru Land Scam: PM Modi Says Only 3% ED Cases Involve Politicians." The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bengaluru/mysuru-land-scam-pm-modi-says-only-3-ed-cases-involve-politicians-8086084/ - Times of India (2025-08-01). "Mysuru Land Scam: Justice PN Desai Panel Clears Siddaramaiah, Wife Parvati." Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/mysuru-land-scam-justice-pn-desai-panel-clears-siddaramaiah-wife-parvati/articleshow/91416535.cms - Instagram reel (2025-08-04). "Supreme Court Slams ED in Mysuru Land Scam Case." Instagram reel. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck-Uv6Xh8PZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
- The Mysuru land scam case, which involved allegations of improper land allotment and political misuse, has sparked debates about the role of policy and legislation in war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice, as well as the need for a clear separation of the two.
- The Supreme Court's rebuke against the Enforcement Directorate in the Mysuru land scam case has underscored general-news discussions about the accountability of investigative agencies in politically sensitive cases, illustrating the importance of maintaining objectivity and avoiding political misuse in such matters.
