ED Summons DK Shivakumar’s Daughter, Grills Associates

She has been summoned in connection with business transaction she was involved in on a trip to Singapore.

Congress leader DK Shivakumar was arrested on Tuesday, 3 September by ED in a money laundering case.

(Photo: PTI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday, 10 September, summoned former Karnataka cabinet minister DK Shivakumar’s daughter, Aishwarya for questioning. She has been asked to appear before the ED on 12 September in New Delhi.

According to sources, she has been summoned in connection with a business transaction in Singapore during a trip with her father in 2017.

This transaction had found mention in the ED case, for which DK Shivakumar is currently in custody. He was arrested on 2 September after the pleas for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Karnataka Bhavan Employee Raided

On Tuesday, ED also raided the residence of Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah, a close associate of DK Shivakumar and a liaison officer at the Karnataka Bhawan in New Delhi.

The ED alleges that Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah was the caretaker of properties and funds linked to Shivakumar.

“Hanumanthaiah was responsible for storing/handling unaccounted currency of the accused no 1 in Delhi, and the custodian of the keys to the flats where the cash was found,” the I-T department had told the court.

He is also considered a crucial link for the ED to prove that the Rs 8.5 crore seized from four different apartments in New Delhi were directly connected to Shivakumar.

Associates Questioned

According to sources, the ED also recorded a statement of Sunil Kumar, owner of a transport company, who allegedly helped DK Shivakumar in transporting illegal money. He also accused of conspiring to evade tax. Further, the ED questioned Sachin Narayan, an alleged close business associate of DK Shivakumar.

The ED is yet to release a statement on the investigations carried out on Tuesday, however, the three men were named by the I-T department as conspirators of DK Shivakumar and they were expected to be questioned further.

Protests Planned in Bengaluru

Several groups are planning a protest in support of DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Wednesday, 11 September. Ahead of the protest, two tweets were seen on DK Shivakumar’s Twitter handle, asking his supporters to keep the protests peaceful.

“I wholeheartedly thank leaders, supporters, well-wishers and friends who have organised a massive protest in my support tomorrow in Bengaluru. I humbly request that the protest be peaceful and doesn't cause any inconvenience to citizens. Please ensure public property isn't harmed,” read his tweet.