Karnataka Cabinet Advises Prosecution of Kumaraswamy

The Karnataka Cabinet has advised Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to act on prosecution requests against Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy and three former BJP ministers, following the Governor's recent sanction for prosecuting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Law Minister H K Patil emphasized that this move is not politically motivated but aims to ensure accountability and expedite the judicial process for pending corruption cases. The Cabinet's advice, grounded in Article 163 of the Constitution, seeks to address perceived discrepancies in the Governor's handling of these cases, especially after Siddaramaiah accused Gehlot of discrimination in sanctioning his prosecution while delaying others'. The Special Investigation Team has sought the Governor's permission to file charges against Kumaraswamy related to an alleged illegal mining lease from 2007, which has been a point of contention. The Cabinet insists that the Governor is expected to act judiciously on their advice, underscoring the limits of his discretion. The political ramifications of these decisions continue to unfold as the opposition calls for accountability from the ruling Congress government.