Here are the big stories from Karnataka today
1. Karnataka government to set up committee to study Bidadi township project, announces CM Even as farmers continue their protests against the proposed Bidadi Township
1. Karnataka government to set up committee to study Bidadi township project, announces CM Even as farmers continue their protests against the proposed Bidadi Township Project on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on July 15, 2026, that the State Government would constitute a committee to examine the project’s merits and demerits. Shivakumar said the State Cabinet would decide whether the committee should comprise retired judges, officials, legislators, or a combination of these experts. The government would take a decision on the project within three months after considering the committee’s recommendations, he said. Shivakumar maintained that the project was not an initiative of the present Congress government but a continuation of a proposal announced by the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in 2006.
“The Bidadi Township Project is not my dream project,” he said, while accusing Mr. Kumaraswamy of instigating the farmers’ agitation against the project. 2. Apartment owners in Bengaluru get briefing on new law for property owners from Karnataka CM Over 500 representatives from among apartment owners attended a public consultation with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on the draft Karnataka Apartment Ownership & Management Act (KAOMA) 2025, in Bengaluru on July 15, 2026. Further feedback on the draft Bill until August 5, which may be sent to kaomablr@gmail.com. Shivakumar said the proposed Act has been drafted to protect the interests of homebuyers, and ensure complete ownership rights. According to Bangalore Apartments’ Federation (BAF), the turnout was a clear reflection of how keenly apartment communities await a modern legal framework for apartment ownership and management in Karnataka.
3. Karnataka HC declares arrest of Kodagu homestay owner as illegal in alleged rape of US national The High Court of Karnataka declared as illegal the arrest of the owner of a Kodagu homestay in the alleged rape of a 33-year-old U.S. citizen by its housekeeper in April 2026. The court directed the State Government to pay ₹5 lakh to him as compensation. Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order on July 15 while partly allowing a petition filed by the 55-year-old owner, who had questioned the legality of his arrest by the Kutta police in Kodagu district. The police had confined him to judicial custody for 14 days till he was released on bail, claimed the petitioner. He claimed that there was no material before the police to arrest him, and that the police had not informed the reason for arresting him.
The BriefWire