Parvathi Siddaramaiah Gives Up 14 Plots Amid ED Probe Against Karnataka CM

Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife, Parvathi, announced on Monday night that she would give up ownership and possession of 14 plots, which she said had become a source of trouble for her husband.

In her first public statement regarding the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, in which Siddaramaiah is under investigation, Parvathi, who rarely appears in public, stated, "No site, home, asset, or wealth is more important than my husband's respect, dignity, honor, and comfort."

Parvathi, the wife of one of Congress' most prominent leaders, has never before commented on public matters. She emphasized that the plots held no value for her, saying, "As someone who has never expected anything from my husband for myself or my family, these sites mean nothing."

She formally communicated her decision to the MUDA commissioner, relinquishing the 14 plots she was allocated at Vijayanagar Layout (3rd and 4th stages) in Mysuru in exchange for 3.16 acres of land utilized by the planning authority.

Parvathi clarified that she made the decision independently, without consulting her husband, son (former MLA Dr. Yathindra), or any other family members. "I made this choice with a clear conscience," she explained, expressing her pain over the allegations. "I never anticipated that the plots I received in exchange for land gifted by my brother would cause such an uproar and result in my husband being unfairly accused."

Addressing the timing of her decision, Parvathi said, "I intended to relinquish the sites the day the accusations surfaced. However, I postponed the decision based on the advice of well-wishers who urged us to fight the political conspiracy and not succumb to it."

While returning the plots, Parvathi called for a "thorough" investigation into the MUDA allegations and highlighted her husband's integrity during his 40-year political career. "I have always ensured that he faced no embarrassment because of me. I've never sought a home, asset, or gold. I've been cautious to avoid harming his political career," she said. "From a distance, I've felt pride seeing the love and admiration he receives from the people."

Meanwhile, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya criticised Parvathi's move, calling it a futile gesture. "This is an admission of guilt. It should have been done on day one," he remarked.