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Defending his wealth, Shivakumar said property appreciation over the years had contributed significantly to the increase in the value of his assets.
Karnataka CM Shivakumar (Left) and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. File image
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday launched a sharp counterattack against Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy after the JD(S) leader accused him of benefiting from alleged irregularities in the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC/NICE) project.
Kumaraswamy, who released a series of documents on Tuesday, alleged that Shivakumar’s declared wealth had risen from around ₹4 crore in 2003 to more than ₹1,400 crore in 2023 and linked the increase to alleged irregularities in the NICE project. He demanded a probe into the project and questioned the rise in Shivakumar’s assets.
Responding to the allegations, Shivakumar acknowledged that his assets are currently valued at around ₹1,400 crore but maintained that they were acquired legally and have been disclosed to the authorities.
“Yes, at today’s valuation, I own assets worth ₹1,400 crore. I have acquired them within the legal framework. Every detail of my assets is already with the Income Tax Department,” he said.
‘Kumaraswamy Is Speaking Out Of Frustration’
“He is unable to digest our government’s popularity. If he had genuine concerns, why was he silent all these years?” Shivakumar asked.
He also referred to former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s association with the NICE project and Kumaraswamy’s own tenure as Karnataka chief minister.
Shivakumar said allegations about his wealth should be taken to the appropriate authorities rather than made at press conferences.
‘Is Kumaraswamy An Income Tax Officer?’
Defending his wealth, Shivakumar said property appreciation over the years had contributed significantly to the increase in the value of his assets.
“I am a farmer’s son and an entrepreneur. Should I not own property? Should my family members not buy property? Everything has been done legally,” he said.
“Is Kumaraswamy an Income Tax officer? If he has evidence, let him submit it to the Income Tax Department.”
Shivakumar cited the example of a property he said he purchased for around ₹99,000 when S. Bangarappa was chief minister and which he claimed is now worth nearly ₹20 crore.
“Have I taken a bribe? Have I been caught in any scam? The answer is no,” he said.
The CM also said his assets had been disclosed in election affidavits and examined by various agencies.
“The Election Commission has seen them. The Enforcement Directorate has seen them. If they want to bring another agency, they are welcome,” he said.
‘If He Has Courage, Let Him Come To Assembly’
Kumaraswamy had challenged Shivakumar to a public debate on the steps of Vidhana Soudha. Rejecting the proposal, Shivakumar said the debate should instead take place inside the Assembly.
“Why debate on the steps of Vidhana Soudha? If he has courage, let someone resign and let him get elected and come debate inside the Assembly,” he said.
“If not, Freedom Park is also available.”
On Kumaraswamy’s criticism of toll collection on the NICE Road, Shivakumar questioned why the former chief minister had not stopped the toll during his own tenure.
“In 2007 he was in office. Why didn’t he cancel the toll then?” he asked.
Shivakumar also challenged Kumaraswamy to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abolish tolls across the country if he wanted toll collection stopped.
‘Part 1, Part 2, Sting Operations—Everything I Know’
Kumaraswamy had indicated that Tuesday’s allegations were only the first part of a larger disclosure. Shivakumar said he was familiar with such political tactics.
“Whether it is Part 1, Part 2, sting operations or artificial intelligence, I know all these methods,” he said.
Shivakumar also alleged that his phone and those of prominent seers had been tapped during Kumaraswamy’s tenure as chief minister. The allegation was not substantiated in his remarks.
“They didn’t spare Balagangadharanatha Swamiji or Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji. Do you think they would spare me? I wasn’t afraid when he was chief minister, and I’m not afraid now,” he said.
Shivakumar further accused Kumaraswamy of political jealousy and questioned his political conduct.
Kumaraswamy, meanwhile, has said his allegations concern alleged deviations from the original BMIC framework agreement, land transactions and changes to the project’s land allocation. He has claimed that the project caused substantial losses to the state exchequer and said more documents would be released in what he described as “Part 2″ of his disclosures. These allegations remain contested.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his family benefited from irregularities in the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC/NICE) project. He claimed Shivakumar’s declared wealth surged from about ₹4 crore in 2003 to over ₹1,400 crore in 2023 due to these alleged land and alignment deviations.
Ask News18About the Author
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and R…Read More
September 29, 2026, 22:35 IST
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