Former Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Commissioner GT Dinesh Kumar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday in connection with a money laundering case involving the illegal allotment of plots. This investigation has also implicated Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife, among others.
Dinesh was presented in front of a special court on Wednesday, where he was remanded to ED custody for nine days. On the day of his arrest, ED officials conducted searches at his residence in Bengaluru before taking him to their zonal office for questioning, resulting in his arrest late in the evening.
According to ED sources, during his tenure as commissioner, Dinesh allegedly engaged in extensive illegal allotments of MUDA sites “in exchange for gratification benefits.” Earlier in January, the ED had attached 142 properties valued at approximately Rs 300 crore in relation to this case, asserting Siddaramaiah’s involvement as well. The properties were registered under various real estate agents’ names. This investigation follows an FIR filed by the Lokayukta police in Mysore against Siddaramaiah and others.