Of the six companies that participated in the auction of 10 acres of land sold by the National Technological Institutions Housing Cooperative Society Ltd. (NTI-HCS) in 2004, five have now found to have been linked to Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar. This is evident from the affidavits he himself submitted to the Election Commission during the 2008 and 2013 Assembly elections.
Earlier, when he had been charged with buying a piece of land allotted to the NTI-HCS in Kodigehalli, Kothihosahalli and Byatarayanapura villages, through his close aide N. Chandrashekar, Mr. Shivakumar had defended himself, saying the land was auctioned by the society with the approval of the government, and a private company had bought the land in the auction.
However, his affidavit — submitted to the Election Commission during the 2013 Assembly elections — shows that five of the six companies that participated in the auction were the ones in which Mr. Shivakumar had investments.
Documents available with The Hindu showed NTI-HSC list Davanam Constructions Pvt. Ltd., SBG Housing, Kausthuba Project Ltd., Zeus Constructions Pvt. Ltd., and Ickon Projects and Spaan Infotech Pvt. Ltd. as companies that participated in the bid for the 10-acre land auction in 2004.
AffidavitThe affidavit Mr. Shivakumar submitted to the Election Commission during the 2013 Assembly elections, shows that he has investments in Ickon Projects and Kausthuba Project Ltd.
The affidavit reveals that he had loaned out money to Kausthuba Project Ltd., Davanam Constructions Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. N. Chandrashekar. Further, his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission during the 2008 Assembly polls shows he also had investments in Zeus Constructions Pvt. Ltd.
Notably, Mr. Shivakumar was Cooperation Minister in the S.M. Krishna government. However, on the date of auction of the land, he was not a Minister.
Probe soughtA group of members of the NTI-HCS has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding a CBI probe into the “irregularities” in the society and also into the allegations against Mr. Shivakumar, enclosing a set of documents revealing the alleged irregularities.
A copy of the letter is available with The Hindu .
