Karnataka CM Shivakumar Faces Conflict of Interest Allegations
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is facing scrutiny over various conflict of interest allegations, including land deals and financial ties with real estate firms.
Shivakumar's Business Ties
- Shivakumar attended an event in Mumbai to mark the NSE listing of the Bagmane Group, a real estate firm with family ties to Shivakumar and former CM S M Krishna.
- In 2019, Shivakumar said he was an agriculturist by birth, a businessman by profession, an educationist by choice, and a politician by passion.
- Shivakumar's tenure as CM will be under scrutiny for measures to help Congress buck "anti-incumbency" in the 2028 elections, as well as conflict of interest rows.
Benniganahalli Case
In 2003, Shivakumar bought 4.2 acres of industrial land in Benniganahalli village for Rs 1.62 crore, despite it being notified for acquisition by the Bengaluru Development Authority.
- Shivakumar got the land converted for residential use and signed a co-development agreement with Prudential Housing and Infrastructure Development Ltd.
- The company was later involved in a denotification order in favor of the original land owner's family member, B K Srinivas.
- Several corruption complaints were filed against Shivakumar, Yediyurappa, and others over the land deal in 2012.
Minerva Mill Land Case
In 2004, Davanam Constructions, linked to Shivakumar, bought 10 acres of prime land belonging to the defunct Minerva Mills in an auction.
- The firm sold the land to Shivakumar and his family for an advance payment of Rs 42.54 crore.
- Shivakumar owns the majority stakes in Global Malls with a market value of over Rs 852 crore and three apartments in the Sobha apartment complex valued at Rs 2.16 crore.
Other Land Cases
Shivakumar and his family have properties in several real estate projects of Salarpuria Properties Ltd and have financial ties with dozens of real estate firms and their promoters in Bengaluru.
- Shivakumar has six flats worth Rs 18 crore in the Salarpuria Sattva Divinity project as of 2023.
- The Income Tax department sought Rs 103 crore as capital gains tax from Shivakumar for the Minerva Mills land deal for 2018-19.
Protests Over Land Acquisition
Months before he took over as CM, Shivakumar faced protests by farmers against a proposed Rs 20,000 crore township planned over 9,000 acres at Bidadi in Shivakumar's home district.
- The project was initially proposed by the JDS when it was in power in 2007 but was reportedly dropped following opposition from farmer groups.
- JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy alleged that the project was being used to loot farmers' land.