Bengaluru: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday praised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for setting up a judicial commission to look into Arkavathi Layout land de-notification, an issue on which the Opposition has targeted him alleging irregularities.
"I have also come to know about this issue...I would give credit to the Chief Minister who immediately set up a judicial commission to look into the issue of de-notification of notified land by the BDA (Bangalore Development Authority," Singh told reporters here.
He said Siddaramaiah had specifically mentioned that if any undue favour had been done to "any of the people concerned, any one who has proof should go to the commission with that.
"...Any one who has any issue, including members of BJP or any other political party, they are free to take evidence, proof or any order given by the Chief Minister or by the state government which is contrary to the existing law or contrary to the any direction by the court," he added.
Facing the heat from the BJP, Karnataka government in August had announced a commission of inquiry headed by former high court Judge H S Kempanna into the Arkavathi Layout land de-notification issue.
Singh also accused the BJP of politicising the issue.
BJP, which is the principal opposition party in the state, has been insisting on a CBI inquiry into alleged corruption pertaining to de-notification of 541 acres in Arkavati Layout.
On BJP's move to seek permission (from the Governor) for prosecution against the Chief Minister, he said, "is there a criminal case against him?... Prosecution will come after investigation... Any permission for prosecution can only be granted once the investigation is over."
"The primary process is first an FIR, then investigation and then prosecution. How can first prosecution be given and then other things are done...? permission to prosecute will be there once there is prima facie case to be prosecuted..."
Recently at a press conference, former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar had said that the party is looking at legal options on the issue, including seeking prosecution permission from the Governor.
