Kharge family trust site allotment case: High Court allows to modify order

The Karnataka High Court has reserved its order on a petition challenging the decision of a special court to probe alleged irregularities in the allotment of a civic amenity site to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, linked to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and his family. The petitioner, Vijayraghava Marathe, challenged the special court's choice to conduct the inquiry instead of directing the Lokayukta police to register a case and investigate the allegations.

The special court had previously decided to proceed under Section 223 of the BNSS, but the High Court allowed the petition to modify the order and direct the inquiry under Section 175(3) of the BNSS, where the magistrate has the power to summon suspected accused for inquiry, unlike Section 223. The case revolves around allegations that the trust secured a BDA civic amenity site through false information under the Scheduled Caste category.

The trust was allegedly granted an 8,125-square-meter site in Banashankari, which the petitioner claims was illegal, and Kharge, as a Union minister, allegedly used his influence to ensure the allotment. Additionally, the trust allegedly received a 50% concession in the lease amount in collusion with BDA officials. Another site in BTM Layout, valued at around ₹130 crore, was allegedly allotted to the trust within 10 days, despite the requirement to develop the original site within three years.

No construction on the original site has taken place, according to the complaint. The High Court's order will determine whether the allegations warrant a proper investigation by the Lokayukta police.