MUDA scam: Former chairman records statement with ED

Bengaluru: The former chairman of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), K Marigowda, on Thursday appeared at the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) office in central Bengaluru’s Shanthinagar to record his statement in connection with the MUDA case.

Marigowda arrived at the ED office following a summons by the central investigation agency, which has intensified its probe into the alleged MUDA scam involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathi.

Marigowda resigned from the MUDA chairman position, citing health reasons in October. He is believed to be a confidant of Siddaramaiah.

ED conducted extensive searches at former MUDA officials’ houses in Bengaluru last month. After the raids, the premiere investigating agency has paced up its probe and summoned multiple stakeholders in the case. Informed sources claimed that the interrogations have followed the documents seized during the earlier raids.

On Wednesday, G Kumar Naik, Member of Parliament from Raichur, appeared at the ED office for investigations following summons from the investigating agency. The ED officials grilled Naik for over 3 hours in connection with the case. Naik is a retired IAS officer who served as Mysuru DC from 2002 to 2005.

Speaking with the reporters after the ED interrogation, Naik said that the officers questioned him regarding a land conversion order he passed as Mysuru DC.

The investigating agency also questioned one more close aide of Siddaramaiah, CT Kumar, in connection with the case on Wednesday. Kumar’s questioning also went on for several hours.