Mallikarjun Kharge returns allotted land amid Muda 'scam' probe

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his family have decided to return the five-acre land allotted to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, which is owned by the Kharge family, amid an ongoing probe into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site scam.

The land in question had been allotted to Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, Rahul M Kharge, in the Hardware Sector of the Hi-Tech Defence and Aerospace Park in Bagalur by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). The five-acre parcel was allocated under the Schedule Caste (SC) quota to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust. The trust includes several Kharge family members, such as Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, his son-in-law Kalaburagi MP Radhakrishna, and his son Rahul Kharge, as trustees.

Kharge’s move follows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s decision to return a controversial MUDA land allotment, which had drawn criticism from the Opposition.

The controversy began in March 2024, when the Karnataka Congress government granted land to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, headed by Rahul Kharge. The BJP was quick to criticise the allotment, with Amit Malviya, head of the party's IT cell, accusing the government of "misuse of power" and "nepotism."

Activist Dinesh Kallahalli lodged a formal complaint with Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, alleging irregularities and corruption in the allotment process. Kallahalli also requested permission to initiate prosecution against Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil, in order to file a complaint with the state Lokayukta.

Meanwhile, Minister Patil has denied the allegations, asserting that Rahul Kharge was a "qualified applicant" and that the site was approved based on merit through a transparent, single-window approval process.