Bengaluru: In a significant development that casts a shadow over the Congress high command, a private complaint has been filed in court against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his son-in-law in connection with a major land allotment scandal involving the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). The complaint accuses the Kharge family of using political influence to illegally acquire government land under the guise of social development, raising serious ethical and legal questions about abuse of power.
The complaint alleges that five acres of prime land in the Aerospace Park located in Devanahalli near Bengaluru were allotted to a trust linked to Mallikarjun Kharge’s family — the Siddhartha Vihar Trust. The land was sanctioned under the category of a “CA site” (Civic Amenities), which is typically reserved for institutions with proven experience in relevant sectors like education, aerospace, research, or social welfare.
However, the complainant, one Vijay Raghavan, has alleged that the application submitted by the Kharge family trust was incomplete and failed to meet the eligibility criteria. “Despite having no prior experience in aerospace, research or civic development, the trust was granted land at breakneck speed. This reeks of political favoritism and procedural violations,” the complaint states.
Adding to the seriousness of the allegations, Raghavan has also flagged a 2014 land transaction where a two-acre Civic Amenity site in BTM 4th Stage, Second Block — under the jurisdiction of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) — was allegedly misappropriated. It is claimed that the Kharge-linked trust not only obtained this site through questionable means but also received a 50 per cent subsidy under the SC category, even though the purpose of the land did not qualify under welfare schemes intended for Scheduled Castes.
These allegations have snowballed into a major political controversy, prompting Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to intervene. Sources from the Raj Bhavan confirmed that the Governor has sought a legal opinion on the matter after the case reached his office through formal representations. Experts consulted by the Governor reportedly raised serious concerns about the speed with which the KIADB allotted land to the trust. According to the legal opinion submitted, “The land was allotted within two days of receiving the application. Such urgency is highly unusual and warrants a full-fledged investigation.”
In an apparent damage control move, Rahul Kharge Mallikarjun Kharge’s son wrote to the KIADB stating that the land was initially sought for the purpose of skill development training. However, citing “unnecessary controversy”, he claimed the trust was returning the land voluntarily.
But critics argue that the decision to return the land does not absolve the family of wrongdoing. “The fact that they chose to relinquish the land only after media scrutiny and political pressure speaks volumes. It is clearly an admission of guilt,” said a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity.
BJP leaders and civil society activists have demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the entire allotment process, and a probe into whether any BDA, KIADB, or revenue officials colluded in the unlawful transaction. “This is not just a case of preferential treatment. It reflects how political dynasties are subverting public institutions for personal gain,” said political analyst Dr VR Gowda.
