Kharge family trust gets plot in aerospace park near Bengaluru, BJP alleges new land scam

The 5-acre parcel was part of 45.94 acres set aside for setting up civic amenities at the aerospace park, to be allocated under the Scheduled Caste quota.

In a post on X, Kharge’s other son and the Karnataka IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister, Priyank Kharge, denied the allegations. The site allotted was not “an industrial plot meant for industrial or commercial purposes”, he said. “It is for educational purposes. The intention of the trust is to set up a multi skill development center in the CA site. Is it wrong?”

Priyank added that the KIADB had not provided any subsidy or provided any relaxation to the trust run by the family to which the plot was awarded.

Priyank is himself a trustee in the Siddhartha Vihara Trust, which was allotted the 5 acres at the Hitech Defence Aerospace Park near Bengaluru. Formed in July 1994, its other trustees include Rahul Kharge (who is also its chairman) and Kharge’s son-in-law and Gulbarga MP Radhakrishna.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya first raised the allegations over the allocation in a post on Sunday, quoting a report from a news website.

“Is this about misuse of power, nepotism, and conflict of interest?… How did the Industries Minister, M B Patil, consent to this allocation? When did the Kharge family become aerospace entrepreneurs to be eligible for (the) KIADB land?” Siroya, a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, posted.

Asking whether there would be a probe in the matter, he said the issue had reached the Governor’s office.

In his statement Monday, Patil said: “The Siddhartha Vihara Trust, led by AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge’s son Rahul Kharge, was allotted a CA (civic amenities) plot at Aerospace Park at a prescribed price, in accordance with KIADB norms. No rules were violated in the process of allocation… (made) at prescribed price, with no discounts given.”

Rahul Kharge is an IIT graduate who wanted to establish a research and development (R&D) centre on the allotted land, the Industries Minister said. “Under KIADB norms, CA plots can be used for setting up R&D centres, centres of excellence, technical institutes, skill development centres, government offices, banks, hospitals, hotels, petrol stations, canteens, and residential facilities.”

The allotments are made on the recommendations of the state-level Single Window Committee, he said.

Priyank said that no subsidy or subsidised rates were given for civic amenity plots allotted to SC/ST organisations, adding: “Rahul, who is the Chairman of the (Siddhartha) trust, has extensively worked at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science for many years.”

He accused Siroya of making the allegations to stay politically relevant.

Ramesh Babu, the head of the media and communication wing of the Congress in Bengaluru, issued a statement calling Siroya a “migrant” to state politics, being originally from Rajasthan, and asked him to share details of his own assets. He also said that with the charges, Siroya and the BJP “have once again expressed their sentiment that they are against Dalit reservation”.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalawadi Narayanaswamy demanded Priyank’s ouster as minister. The Siddhartha Vihara Trust had been formed to construct a Buddha Vihara, and was a religious trust, not meant to set up industries, Narayanaswamy claimed.

“Priyank Kharge is a minister and should not misuse power. Radhakrishna is an MP and Mallikarjun Kharge is a Rajya Sabha MP. This incident amounts to nepotism and abuse of power. Priyank should be sacked from the Cabinet immediately,” he demanded.

The allegations against Kharge and family come amidst the ongoing controversy over a land allotment scam involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has provided sanction to prosecute the CM over the disputed allocation of land under a Mysore Urban Development Authority scheme to his wife.