Can't I own property? DK Shivakumar hits back at Kumaraswamy's scam charge

After Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar's wealth was linked to NICE road scam and demanded his resignation, the Karnataka Chief Minister hit back, saying his Rs 1,400 crore assets were acquired legally and duly declared. He also challenged the Union minister to debate the allegations in the Assembly.DK Shivakumar questioned Kumaraswamy’s involvement in the NICE project, pointing out that his father, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, had signed it. New Delhi,Sep 30, 2026 09:56 ISTKarnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday hit back at Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s allegations of irregularities in the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP), saying he has assets worth Rs 1,400 crore at current valuations but acquired them legally and has declared them to the authorities.Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Shivakumar dismissed Kumaraswamy’s allegations as “lies” and questioned why the former chief minister had remained silent on the project for so long.“Yes, at today’s valuation, I have assets worth Rs 1,400 crore. I have acquired these assets within the legal framework. Kumaraswamy is making such statements out of frustration,” he said.Kumaraswamy had earlier demanded Shivakumar’s resignation, alleging that deviations in the BMICP were approved during his tenure as state Urban Development Minister without Cabinet approval. The project was implemented by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Ltd (NICE). Shivakumar questioned Kumaraswamy’s involvement in the project, pointing out that his father, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, had signed it.“Why was he silent all these years? His father Deve Gowda himself had signed that project. He was also the Chief Minister,” Shivakumar said. He also alleged that Kumaraswamy had made efforts to award a tender to an individual named Gandhi and referred to transactions he claimed were carried out under benami names.“I do not want to name people like he does,” he said.Turning to questions over his personal wealth, Shivakumar asked whether Kumaraswamy was an Income Tax officer.“As the son of a farmer and a businessman, can’t I have assets? Can’t my children purchase property? I have acquired assets within the provisions permitted by law. What is wrong with that? Is Kumaraswamy an Income Tax officer?” he asked.Shivakumar said details of his assets were available with the Income Tax Department and challenged Kumaraswamy to provide any information to the department.“Have I taken a bribe or been caught in any scam? Nothing like that has happened,” he said.He also questioned how properties belonging to Kumaraswamy and others came within the limits of projects such as BMICP, NICE Road and Bidadi Township.“Can only these people come from somewhere and acquire properties here? Do they not have properties within the BMICAPA and NICE Road project?” he asked.On a property he purchased during the tenure of former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, Shivakumar said he had been allotted a site for around Rs 99,000 that is worth about Rs 20 crore today.“The value of my assets has increased. I have declared them. What is wrong with that?” he said.Asked about the allegation that he invested Rs 5 crore in Sobha Developers and that it had grown to Rs 2,000 crore, Shivakumar said, “Did I take a bribe? Did I get caught in any scam? Nothing like that has happened.”“I have not acquired anything by stealing. I have every right and opportunity to do business. My children also have the capacity,” he said.He added that he had declared his assets every year and that the Election Commission and Enforcement Directorate had already examined them.“If they want to deploy any other major agency and examine them, let them do so. Who is stopping them?” he said.Shivakumar also responded to Kumaraswamy’s challenge to debate the issue on the steps of Vidhana Soudha.“Why on the steps of Vidhana Soudha? If he has the courage, let him get someone to resign their Council or Assembly membership and come inside the Assembly and debate,” he said, adding that Kumaraswamy could instead hold a debate at Freedom Park.On Kumaraswamy’s claim that he had not supported implementation of the NICE project, Shivakumar pointed to his tenure as chief minister in 2007.“He was in power in 2007. He himself had given the project to Nikhil Gandhi through auction. Why couldn’t he do it?” Shivakumar said.Asked about Kumaraswamy’s statement that his allegations were only “Part 1”, Shivakumar said he was aware of the tactics being used against him.“Part 1, 2, 3, 4, sting operations, artificial intelligence — I know what all he has,” he said.Referring to allegations of phone tapping involving religious leaders, Shivakumar said he would not be intimidated.“I was not afraid when he was Chief Minister. Will I be afraid now? It is not in my nature to be frightened or blackmailed through big threats,” he said.He also attributed the allegations to political competition within the BJP-JD(S) alliance.“They are unable to digest the popularity of our government. I have said earlier that there is no medicine for jealousy,” he said.Asked whether the dispute would eventually end, Shivakumar said he did not want to make further allegations against Kumaraswamy.“I do not have time for all that. I am only responding to what you have asked,” he said.- Ends