Bengaluru, 9 Oct

A sessions court in Bengaluru rejected an application filed by activist and complainant Snehamayi Krishna, seeking a change of Investigating Officer in the MUDA case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The petitioner had requested that the Bengaluru Additional City Civil and Sessions Court directs the Karnataka Lokayukta to appoint a different officer to handle the investigation.

However, the court on Thursday declined the request and instead directed the Lokayukta to complete the ongoing investigation "as expeditiously as possible" and within a maximum period of two months.

The order specifically stated that no further extension of time would be granted for filing the comprehensive report.

The final report will be furnished on 15 November, when the matter will be heard next.

In the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife 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.