HD Kumaraswamy Alleges DK Shivakumar Family Benefited from NICE 'Scam'
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has levelled fresh allegations against Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his family over the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), popularly known as the NICE Road project. Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar and his family were among the key beneficiaries of what he described as the alleged NICE Road scam, and questioned changes made to the project's original plan, including alterations to its alignment, land allocation and development framework.
According to documents cited by the Union minister, 22 acres in Hosakerehalli were allegedly involved in a joint venture between DK Suresh, Shivakumar's brother and former Lok Sabha MP, and Sobha Developers. Kumaraswamy claimed the arrangement resulted in Suresh receiving nearly 400 flats, estimated to be worth around ₹2,000 crore. The documents also mention DK Shivakumar, alleged benamis, and Ashok Kheny in connection with alleged benefits. Sunitha Baba Kalyani is identified as Ashok Kheny's sister and alleged to have benefited from 56 acres and seven guntas and more.
Kumaraswamy alleged that changes to the BMIC/NICE project occurred after Shivakumar became chairman of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Planning Authority (BMICPA) in 2003, when serving as Karnataka's Urban Development Minister. He claimed the project's alignment and Outline Development Plan were subsequently altered, resulting in deviations from the original Cabinet-approved framework.
