"Congress is synonym of corruption": BJP spokesperson Prem Shukla lashes out at Karnataka CM Siddaramiah on MUDA scam

New Delhi [India], January 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Prem Shukla lashed out at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah and the Congress party after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached 142 immovable properties worth over Rs 300 crore in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.
Speaking to ANI, the BIP leader said "Congress is the synonym for corruption. Even after this, Siddaramiah is not ready to tender his resignation. .... for the last 11 years, Congress has not been in power in the central government but still, they keep doing corruption in various states..."
Meanwhile, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that nobody was above the law and the agencies are doing what they are supposed to do.
"Nobody is above the law. Agencies work independently and are doing what they are supposed to do," Chouhan told ANI on Saturday.
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge however said that the law will take its own course in the case and the state was not stalling any investigation.
"This has been going on for a very long time even during the BJP tenure is what everyone is alleging. Whatever is happening is as per law. Let the law take its own course. The CM is very clear that whatever investigation is happening, let it happen. No one is stalling the investigation," Kharge said.
ED's Bangalore Zonal Office attached these properties under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
As per the ED, these properties are registered in the name of various individuals who are working as real estate businessmen and agents.
ED initiated the investigation on the basis of a First Information Report registered by the Lokayuktha Police Mysore under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Siddaramaiah and others.
It is alleged that Siddaramaiah has used his political influence to get compensation of 14 sites in the name of his wife BM Parvathi in lieu of three acres 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA. The land was originally acquired by MUDA for Rs 3,24,700. The compensation in the form of 14 sites at Posh locality is worth Rs 56 Crore (approx). (ANI)