The ED had called the Chief Minister's wife for questioning in connection with alleged illegal allotment of plots by the MUDA, a case in which Siddaramaiah was named as Accused No 1.
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Enforcement Directorate - warning it to steer clear of political face-offs - as it rejected a summons to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife - Parvati - in connection with alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, land scam.
A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai upheld a Karnataka High Court order Monday morning and made sharp observations about the federal agency's role in this matter, including warning Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, to not "force us to say anything".
"Mr Raju," the bench said, "Please don't ask us to open our mouth... otherwise we will be forced to make some harsh comments about the ED. Unfortunately I have some experience in Maharashtra... let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used..."
Left with no room to manoeuvre, Mr Raju said the ED would withdraw its plea, but fired a parting shot, telling the court, "But let this not be treated as a precedent..."
On the ED's plea the court then said it did not find any flaw in the ruling by a single-judge bench of the High Court and said, "We reject the petition in view of the facts and circumstances.
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