Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced stringent action against government officials who permitted the illegal construction of sheds at Kogilu near Yelahanka in Bengaluru. This declaration comes in the wake of a controversial eviction drive at the site, which drew sharp criticism from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Eviction Drive and Rehabilitation Promise
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on December 29, 2025, Siddaramaiah detailed the government's stance. He confirmed that 167 illegally constructed sheds, built since 2021, were cleared after occupants were served multiple notices. The Chief Minister emphasized that such unauthorized construction could not have occurred without the knowledge of local revenue officials, including the tahsildar.
On humanitarian grounds, Siddaramaiah stated that eligible individuals among the evictees would be provided alternative housing. The Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of the Bengaluru North corporation have been tasked with compiling a list of beneficiaries—specifically those who do not own other houses or land. These individuals will be allotted houses under the state's CM One Lakh Housing Scheme.
Political Crossfire with Kerala CM
The Chief Minister launched a strong rebuttal against the criticism from Kerala's Left Democratic Front government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan. Siddaramaiah accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of unnecessarily politicizing the issue. He directly linked Vijayan's remarks to the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala, scheduled for March or April 2026.
“The communist party has made it a political issue, unnecessarily. None other than the CM of Kerala made it an issue, because the Assembly elections are coming,” Siddaramaiah asserted. He countered the attack by highlighting his government's efforts to provide rehabilitation, framing it as a compassionate response versus political posturing.
Internal Probe and Allegations of Corruption
Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar, who was also present, revealed deeper malpractices. He alleged that the government had information about certain individuals who allowed the illegal construction after taking money from the occupants. Shivakumar vowed to identify these culprits and initiate legal action against them.
He further disclosed that land documents for the property, originally designated for solid waste management, had been fraudulently altered to facilitate the illegal settlements. This points to a larger scheme of corruption and document forgery that enabled the encroachment.
The review meeting, attended by Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, solidified the government's two-pronged approach: taking punitive action against complicit officials while ensuring rehabilitation for the displaced eligible families. This incident has sparked a significant political row between the Congress-ruled Karnataka and the CPM-ruled Kerala, centering on governance, illegal encroachment, and rehabilitation policies.
