# Kumaraswamy alleges Rs 3 lakh crore NICE loss, Shivakumar denies 2026-09-30T03:26:22+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets (4 source reports) Union minister HD Kumaraswamy has alleged irregularities in the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (NICE) project, claiming a loss of around Rs 3 lakh crore to the state exchequer, and urged commuters to stop paying toll. He said the 2004 Outline Development Plan altered the 1997 Cabinet-approved Framework Agreement without fresh approval, increasing the toll road land from 6,999 acres to 9,469 acres, and added 15 lakes and new survey numbers. Kumaraswamy targeted Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who was urban development minister then, and demanded his resignation, calling the project 'bigger than 2G and coal scams'. Shivakumar hit back, calling the charges 'a bundle of lies'. He admitted to assets worth Rs 1,400 crore but said they were acquired legally and declared to the Income Tax Department. He questioned Kumaraswamy's silence for years, pointing out that his father, HD Deve Gowda, had signed the initial MoU. Kumaraswamy said he will release more documents in his campaign. Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda defended Shivakumar, noting Kumaraswamy, as chief minister in 2007, did not cancel the NICE agreement. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Times of India and Hindustan Times lead with Kumaraswamy's accusations, detailing the alleged procedural deviations. India Today and the Times of India's second piece foreground Shivakumar's rejection, including his asset declaration and challenge to debate in the Assembly. The critical framing omits Shivakumar's rebuttals, while the defensive framing minimises the 2004 changes. Neither side addresses the high court observation on the 50% alteration. The disagreement centres on whether the changes were authorised. Kumaraswamy's promise of more documents and Shivakumar's offer to face scrutiny by any agency are the next steps to watch. The Assembly or an agency probe could test the claims. ## Coverage Coverage: 4 sources, 2 pro-government, 2 government-critical - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical) Leads with Kumaraswamy's allegations against the state government and CM. - hindustantimes.com (government critical) Details Kumaraswamy's charges, questioning Cabinet authorisation and targeting Shivakumar. - indiatoday.in (pro government) Leads with Shivakumar's rebuttal, framing allegations as lies and defending his assets. - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2) (pro government) Headline and lead focus on Shivakumar's denial, calling Kumaraswamy's charge a 'bundle of lies'. This brief was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources. Last updated 2026-09-30T04:51:53+00:00. Tags: Ashok Kheny, Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor, DK Shivakumar, HD Kumaraswamy, Karnataka, NICE project Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kumaraswamy-alleges-rs-3-lakh-crore-nice-project-loss-targets-shivakumar/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kumaraswamy-alleges-rs-3-lakh-crore-nice-project-loss-targets-shivakumar/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/