Views of Karnataka High Court. |Picture source: File Photo
Amid the setbacks of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathi, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday allowed the Enforcement Bureau (ED) to continue to investigate all defendants, regardless of weather or not, in the case of Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), except for former Muda Muda Commanders DB Natesh.
The branch judge, composed of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind, passed an interim order while disposing of the application filed by the Emergency Department in the appeal against a judge’s verdict on January 27 to investigate Mr Natesh.
Ed’s entire investigation in Muda was stalled because of the single judge’s judgment on Natesh’s case, as many of the people who had issued notice had signed the office order from the court and cited the judgment in Mr. Netai’s case. The court also canceled the notice to Ms. Parvathi and the Minister of Urban Development Byrathi Suresh, citing observations of Ed in the judgment of Mr. Natesh’s case.
In addition, the judge allowed the Emergency Department to utilize all documents and materials that may be collected, recovered and secured during Mr Natesh’s search and seizure and to utilize recorded statements for the rest of the investigation under the law.
The bench said the single judge’s judgment (limited to Mr Natesh) could not be used to prevent the entire investigation. ED noted that Natesh’s case verdict stalled the investigation into Ms. Parvathi, and Muda allocated 14 locations.
Although in the Natesh case, the judge refused to comply with the single judge’s judgment, it clarified that the judgment in the Natesh case would not prohibit ED from investigating under the law on other defendants.
The bench said the interim order would not harm Mr. Nez’s case, as his case was on the merits. The court said whether the statements under Section 17(1)(f) of the Money Laundering Act could be withdrawn under the court (ordered by a single judge).
publishing – April 2, 2025 11:03 pm ist
