Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken D.B. Natesh, former Commissioner of the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), into custody in connection with the alleged illegal allotment of plots in the MUDA scam. The case also involves Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his family, and others, official sources said.
On Tuesday, the ED raided Natesh’s residence and questioned him about the MUDA scam. Following the inquiry, Natesh was taken into custody and brought to the ED office in Shantinagar. Natesh is accused of illegally allotting 928 plots in a 50:50 ratio from MUDA, including a plot for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, during his tenure as MUDA Commissioner.
Sources indicate that Natesh told ED officials he had followed government orders and did not commit any wrongdoing in the allotment process. On Monday, the ED conducted searches at more than half a dozen locations across Mangalore, Bengaluru, Mandya, and Mysuru in Karnataka in connection with the MUDA-linked money laundering case. The searches were conducted at premises linked to a builder, among other private individuals.
The ED’s recent moves come within a week of the agency summoning six employees associated with MUDA for questioning. The employees were instructed to appear on different dates at the ED’s zonal office in Bengaluru, bringing along various documents relevant to the case. Investigators are focusing on uncovering evidence and documents related to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and several officials linked to him.
The ED has invoked provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), enabling the agency to summon individuals for questioning and, potentially, to seize assets during the investigation. Siddaramaiah has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that he is facing political persecution. Despite demands from the BJP for his resignation, Siddaramaiah has stated that he will not step down and has the backing of his party leaders.
