The former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Sunday made a frontal attack on Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa by releasing a fresh set of documents in support of his charges of “favouritism” being shown to a private company in return for “illegal gratification.”
The JD(S) leader alleged that Mr. Yeddyurappa and his family members, besides his ministerial colleague, Shobha Karandlaje, had received benefits worth a total of Rs. 8 crore, including cheque payments from the Adarsh Group, in return for largesse in the form of land allotment around Bangalore by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).
Mr. Kumaraswamy claimed that the private company had given an “interest-free advance” of Rs. 92 lakh to Bhagath Homes Private Limited, a firm belonging to Mr. Yeddyurappa's children and son-in-law, Rs. 50 lakh to Mr. Yeddyurappa on a “dubious lease arrangement,” and Rs. 3.5 crore to Ms. Karandlaje, besides selling a residential villa reportedly worth Rs. 4 crore to Davalagiri Properties and Developers, another company belonging to the Chief Minister's sons and son-in-law, for only Rs. 95 lakh.
In return, the Adarsh Group was allotted 28 acres of land close to the Bengaluru International Airport by the KIADB for setting up an IT and jewellery park. The company was also allotted 17.5 acres of industrial land on the outskirts of Bangalore by the KIADB to set up an IT park and a five-star hotel. In addition, about six acres at Varthur on the outskirts of Bangalore had been allotted by the KIADB to set up another IT park.
Besides, 25 acres was allotted to the private company in the Shimoga industrial area for an IT park.
“Gross violation”
“Even though the land had been allotted for setting up IT parks, the private company has built luxury villas meant for high-end buyers in gross violation of the law,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said. “The land allotted to the private company is worth several hundred crore rupees,” he alleged.
