Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday questioned Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over alleged land purchases by his family members near the NICE Road toll plaza at Hosakerehalli in Bengaluru. He raised questions about the ownership of land and the construction of a Shobha apartment complex in the area. The allegations are linked to the long-running dispute over the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), also known as the NICE Road project.Key HighlightsKumaraswamy questioned land ownership near the NICE Road toll plaza in Hosakerehalli.He raised questions about a Shobha apartment complex built in the area.The Union Minister linked his questions to alleged changes in the NICE Road project.The land dispute has led to a public exchange between Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar.Kumaraswamy Raises Questions Over Land OwnershipKumaraswamy has raised fresh questions about land near the NICE Road toll plaza in Bengaluru. He questioned who owns the land and how the property was used for the construction of the Shobha apartment complex.The issue has brought attention to land deals linked to the NICE Road project. The project is also known as the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor.Kumaraswamy has accused Shivakumar and his family members of gaining benefits from changes made to the project. He has also questioned the role of private developers in the land deals.However, these are allegations made by the Union Minister. The claims need to be checked through land records, official documents and statements from the people involved.What Is the NICE Road Land Controversy?The NICE Road project was planned to improve road travel between Bengaluru and Mysuru. It was also linked to the development of new townships and other facilities.The project has faced questions over land acquisition, road alignment and agreements between the government and private companies.Kumaraswamy has said that changes made to the original project plan need to be examined. He has questioned whether these changes followed the rules and received the required approval.He has also alleged that some people received financial benefits from these changes.In earlier statements, Kumaraswamy claimed that the land marked for the road project increased from around 6,999 acres to 9,468.86 acres. He said the changes were different from the original project agreement.These figures are part of his allegations and have not been independently established by the information provided in the latest IANS report.Shivakumar Responds to Kumaraswamy's AllegationsThe land controversy has also led to a public exchange between the two leaders.On September 30, 2026, Shivakumar responded to Kumaraswamy's allegations about his assets and land ownership. He rejected the charges and questioned why he should not own property.According to media reports, Shivakumar said:"Shouldn't I own property?"He also described Kumaraswamy's allegations as baseless and accused him of making political attacks against the Congress government.Shivakumar has maintained that owning property is not illegal if it has been acquired through lawful means.The response has added another layer to the ongoing political dispute in Karnataka.Kumaraswamy Questions Alleged Benefits to Family MembersKumaraswamy has also raised questions about the role of Shivakumar's family members in land transactions connected to the NICE project.In his earlier statements, he referred to D.K. Suresh, Shivakumar's brother and former Member of Parliament.He alleged that land in Hosakerehalli was linked to a joint development arrangement with Sobha Developers. He also questioned the benefits received through the development of the property.According to reports, Kumaraswamy claimed that around 22 acres of land were involved in a joint venture and alleged that nearly 400 flats were received as part of the arrangement.He estimated the value of these flats at around Rs 2,000 crore.These figures represent Kumaraswamy's claims. The full ownership details, agreements and financial value must be examined through official records before any conclusion can be reached.Dispute Over NICE Road Project ContinuesThe NICE Road controversy has remained a major issue in Karnataka politics. The project has faced questions from political leaders and public groups over land acquisition and its original agreements.Kumaraswamy has demanded answers about the changes made to the project. He has also questioned the collection of toll charges and the use of land connected to the corridor.Earlier, he said that the original project agreement and later changes should be examined.He has also spoken about farmers who lost land for the project. According to reports published on October 3, Kumaraswamy met farmers from different villages near Bengaluru and heard their concerns.The Union Minister has said that he wants the land-related issues to be addressed. He has urged affected farmers to raise their concerns together.What Happens Next?The latest questions about the Shobha apartment complex have brought the Hosakerehalli land issue back into public discussion.The key questions are about the original landowners, the dates of purchase, the development agreements and the approvals given by the authorities.Official land records and registered documents will be important in understanding the matter.The statements from Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar show that the dispute is still ongoing. However, political allegations alone cannot establish whether any law was broken.The matter may now depend on further documents, official explanations and responses from the people named in the allegations.As of October 3, 2026, the supplied report does not mention any new court order or official investigation specifically concerning the Shobha apartment complex.The NICE Road land controversy remains an important issue in Karnataka, with questions over land ownership, development agreements and the alleged benefits received by people connected to the project.
