Reacting to the case against him filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Monday, 5 October, called it a political conspiracy, adding that it was a plan to harass him.
“Filing a case against me is wrong, I am not the only politician in the state. This is definitely a political conspiracy. They are unable to see me grow. I will cooperate with the system. They want to harass me,” Shivakumar said, according to ANI.
The CBI raided the Karnataka Pradesh Congress President’s house in Bengaluru earlier on Monday and released a statement in the evening saying that it had registered a case against him.
“CBI has registered a case against then Minister of Karnataka Government and others on the allegations of acquisition of Disproportionate Assets. Searches are being conducted today at 14 locations including 9 in Karnataka, 4 in Delhi, one in Mumbai,” read a statement from the CBI.
According to sources, the CBI searched DK Shivakumar and DK Suresh’s houses in Kanakapura and 15 other properties. The CBI procured a warrant from the CBI Special Court judge late on Sunday evening and began the search at 6 am on Monday.
The search was procured based on a corruption case registered by the CBI based on the inputs shared by the Enforcement Directorate over a money-laundering probe linked to the tax evasion proceedings by the Income Tax Department.
Shivakumar took to Twitter on Monday evening to condemn the raids, calling them a “continuation of BJP’s vendetta policies” against him.
Rs 57 Lakh Recovered: CBI
On Monday evening, CBI released a statement saying that a case has been registered on the allegations of possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 74.93 crore (approx) in his name and in the name of his family members.
“It may be recalled that Government of Karnataka has issued a notification u/s 6 of DSPE Act and it was followed by a Notification u/s 5 of DSPE Act issued by Government of India after which CBI had initially registered a Preliminary Enquiry during March 2020 against the said MLA and others in the matter,” read the statement.
The statement added that during the raids “cash of Rs 57 lakh (approx) and several incriminating documents including property documents, bank related information, computer hard disk etc” were recovered.
Raids Before Bypoll Campaigning
Senior Congress leaders said that the raids are being conducted when the party is all set to begin campaigning for the bypolls in two Assembly constituencies.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed the government, calling the raids at Shivakumar’s house an attempt to mislead the public.
Will They Raid Him Every Time There Is an Election? Ask Lawyers
Speaking to the media outside DK Shivakumar’s Sadashivnagar residence, his lawyer AS Ponnanna said that the CBI has not furnished any information regarding the case against DK Shivakumar and that the legal team was not aware of the charges levied against him.
"Every time, there is an election, will they keep raiding his house? There should be some sanctity – something to the rule of law. This is not a lawful action. I don't think there is a doubt in anybody's mind. You don't need a legal mind for that. The public is aware why this is happening. The by-elections are announced, he is one of the star campaigners, he is KPCC president. It is only a politically motivated action," Ponnanna said.
Insidious Game of Intimidation: Congress
AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala called the raids “the insidious game of intimidation and machinations of Modi-Yeddyurappa duo being executed by a puppet CBI (sic).”
He further added that the CBI should be unearthing the layers of corruption in the Yediyurappa government.
Cong workers Try to Lockdown CM BSY’s House
The Congress youth wing on Monday held protests at various locations in the state condemning the CBI raid. Members of the National Student Union of India, the youth wing of the Congress party, held protests outside Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s residence in Shivamogga’s Shikaripura and attempted to lock down the house.
The Shikaripura Police detained around 15 protesters after they attempted to lockdown the CM’s residence. Yediyurappa’s family members were inside the house when the protests were held.
Protests were also held near Maurya Circle in Bengaluru.
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