Dkshi’s missing Hublot watch row resurfaces as Narayanaswamy questions affidavit details

Bengaluru: The long-running controversy over Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s luxury watches resurfaced on Thursday after Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chaluvaliya Narayanaswamy questioned the “mystery” surrounding the missing Hublot watch and alleged inconsistencies in Shivakumar’s election affidavits.

Speaking to reporters near Vidhana Soudha, Narayanaswamy said the Hublot watch—once at the centre of a political storm—still does not appear in Shivakumar’s affidavit. “Even today, the DKShi Hublot watch is missing.

It is not in the affidavit. Now, according to the information given to the Lokayukta, one Rolex worth ₹9 lakh, one Cartier worth ₹23.90 lakh, and another Cartier worth ₹12.06 lakh have been declared. If so, where has the Hublot gone?” he asked.

Narayanaswamy said his remarks were not intended to embarrass Shivakumar but to highlight inconsistencies. “If my statement has upset him, I cannot help it. He says he has declared everything, but the Cartier watches were not mentioned in earlier affidavits. Not disclosing assets itself is an offence,” he said.

Recounting their decades-long friendship from college days, Narayanaswamy said he had no personal grievance against Shivakumar. “He is my close friend. I have seen him grow. He has risen to great heights and is today the Deputy Chief Minister. I genuinely feel happy for him. I am not jealous. But facts must be placed before the public,” he remarked.

He contrasted his own lifestyle with that of Shivakumar, saying: “I wear only one watch—Titan. I don’t have Rolex, Cartier, or Hublot. If he has a hundred watches, I am happy as a friend. But why were they not disclosed?”

Narayanaswamy further pointed out that neither in the 2018 nor 2023 affidavits was a Cartier watch mentioned, despite Shivakumar having worn it for seven years. He also recalled that the controversial Hublot watch gifted to the Chief Minister earlier was eventually handed over and placed in the Vidhana Soudha museum.

The renewed exchange is expected to intensify the political debate within the Congress leadership amid existing tensions between senior leaders.

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