The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) conduct in politically sensitive cases as it upheld the Karnataka High Court’s decision to quash the case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife in the MUDA case, news agency PTI reported.
Cautioning against the agency being used as a tool in political battles, a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai said, “Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used”.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing the ED’s appeal challenging a Karnataka High Court order that quashed proceedings in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case involving BM Parvati, wife of the Karnataka chief minister.
“Mr Raju (Additional Solicitor General S V Raju who was appearing for the ED), please don’t compel us to open our mouths. Otherwise, we will be forced to make some harsh comments about the ED. Unfortunately, I have some experience in Maharashtra. Don’t perpetuate this violence across the country. Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used,” the CJI said during the brief proceedings, PTI reported.
In the MUDA case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land, which had been “acquired” by the MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout, PTI report stated.
‘A step towards justice’: CM Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Karnataka High Court judgment, which quashed the ED notice in the MUDA case.
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A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office called the ruling a step towards justice and a blow to politically motivated interference, PTI noted.
The statement read: “Supreme Court upholds judgment of the High Court quashing ED notice in Parvathi and Byrathi Suresh MUDA Case. SLPs dismissed. Court cautioned about making adverse remarks against ED. They stated that matter must not be politicised. Fight your battles before the electorate. Dismissed as they find no fault in the learned single judge’s order. Justice has prevailed and ED interference has been put to an end in MUDA case.”
– with PTI inputs