In a significant clarification, the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) has officially stated that no new legal case has been initiated against former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch, H D Deve Gowda, in the Supreme Court. This statement directly addresses concerns raised by Gowda himself earlier this week.
Addressing the Former PM's Concerns
The development comes after H D Deve Gowda stated that he had been made a party to a writ petition in the Supreme Court connected to the long-contested Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project. Gowda's declaration had sparked a fresh wave of political discussion in Karnataka. However, NICE, the company executing the BMIC project, has moved swiftly to clear the air.
NICE's Firm Denial
In its response, NICE categorically denied filing any new petition that names the former Prime Minister as a party. The infrastructure firm emphasized that Gowda's recent statement about being implicated in a fresh Supreme Court writ petition is not based on any new litigation initiated by them. This clarification aims to put an end to the speculation surrounding the legal status of the veteran politician concerning the BMIC issue.
The BMIC project has been a subject of legal and political controversy for decades. It is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity between Bangalore and Mysore. Over the years, it has seen numerous court battles and has been a focal point in Karnataka's political discourse, with Deve Gowda and his family often being critical of certain aspects of its implementation.
Background of the BMIC Controversy
The Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, conceived in the 1990s, involves the construction of an expressway, townships, and associated infrastructure. Legal challenges have frequently revolved around allegations of land acquisition issues and deviations from the original framework agreement. H D Deve Gowda has been a prominent figure in these debates, often voicing strong objections on behalf of farmers and landowners.
NICE's latest statement, issued on 30 December 2025, seeks to delineate the current legal standing. By asserting that no new case has been filed against the JD(S) leader, the company is attempting to separate the ongoing legal processes from any new, targeted action against the former Prime Minister.
Political Implications and Next Steps
This clarification holds considerable political weight in Karnataka. Deve Gowda remains an influential figure, and any legal action against him becomes a significant political event. The denial from NICE potentially defuses a situation that could have been leveraged for political mobilization. It redirects the focus back to the substantive and long-pending legal matters surrounding the BMIC project itself, rather than on individual political figures.
As of now, the ball is back in the court of the concerned parties to address the core issues of the BMIC project through the existing legal framework. The public statement from NICE serves as an official record, countering the narrative of a new legal offensive against the veteran statesman.
