Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who has been in the eye of a political storm over corruption and nepotism charges, has declared his assets, which include 18.23 acres of agricultural land in his native Shikaripura, 2.5 kg of gold, and about Rs. 33.4 lakh in bank deposits.
According to the declaration of assets and liabilities dated February 5, copies of which were released to the press on Sunday, Mr. Yeddyurappa owns four non-agricultural properties that include his house built on a 50x80 plot in RMV-II stage, Bangalore, besides 9.12 acres of agricultural land converted for industrial purposes at Shikaripura.
The Chief Minister also owns household goods, furniture and electronic items worth around Rs.10.4 lakh. In addition, he owns 76 kg of silver.
Mr. Yeddyurappa's disclosure of assets, addressed to the Bharatiya Janata Party's national president Nitin Gadkari, comes not only in response to the BJP's call to its senior leaders, including Chief Ministers, to declare their assets and come clean on black money, but also in the wake of the controversy over his alleged involvement in land scams and nepotism.
“I also hereby declare that I, as a Chief Minister, or any of my family members do not have any bank accounts in Swiss banks or any other country's tax haven bank accounts,” Mr. Yeddyurappa stated in the declaration.
The Chief Minister did not own any movable assets as he had sold a Contessa car and a Scorpio, the declaration added.
The agricultural land at Shikaripura is spread across four parcels of 4.01, 4.16, 5.04 and 5.02 acres of land, totalling 18.23 acres. While the 4.01 and 4.16 acres were acquired by Mr. Yeddyurappa through the Shikaripura Land Tribunal in December 1981 and February 1982 respectively, the 5.04 acres were acquired in December 2005 in his capacity as legal heir of his late wife, Mythradevi.
His non-agricultural properties include a residential building at Shikaripura, which was transferred to him in his capacity as legal heir of Mythradevi, and 9.12 acres of agricultural land at Shiralakoppa, which was purchased in January 2007 and converted for industrial purposes in December 2008.
Mr. Yeddyurappa's investments in shares include 70 Khaitan shares, and 100 shares each of Zenith Infotech Limited and Urban Bank, Shikaripura.
His deposits in banks include Rs.17.92 lakh in the Vidhana Soudha branch of the Apex Bank, which has been attributed to his salary, perks and reimbursements as Chief Minister; Rs.5.24 lakh in the Corporation Bank, Sadashivanagar branch, from proceeds of car sales; and Rs.2.19 lakh in the Canara Bank, Shikaripura, which has been attributed to the agricultural income and rent receipts.
The former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy, who launched a tirade against Mr. Yeddyurappa, dismissed the disclosure of assets as being of little significance.
“He has given a declaration in response to his party's call. He has given a statement on assets and liabilities that is given to the Lokayukta by all MLAs mandatorily. What needs to be discussed is the allegation of misuse of office by him to benefit his kin,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) termed the declaration of assets a “travesty of truth.”
