The Karnataka High Court had on 10 February stayed the CBI's proceedings in a corruption case against Shivakumar.
Published May 17, 2023 | 2:02 PM ⚊ Updated May 17, 2023 | 2:02 PM
DK Shivakumar, President, Karnataka Congress. (Twitter: DK Shivakumar)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 17 May, adjourned to 14 July the hearing on CBI’s plea that challenged a Karnataka High Court order granting an interim stay on the probe into a disproportionate assets case against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president DK Shivakumar.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol deferred the matter after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Shivakumar, said the matter is coming up before the high court on 23 May.
The Karnataka High Court had on 10 February stayed the CBI’s proceedings in a corruption case against Shivakumar. The stay was later further extended on different dates.
The Income Tax (I-T) Department had in 2017 conducted a raid against Shivakumar, on the basis of which, the Enforcement Directorate started its probe against him.
Following the ED investigation, the CBI later sought sanction from the state government to file an FIR against him.
The sanction came on 25 September, 2019, and on 3 October, 2020, Shivakumar was booked by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Shivakumar had approached the Karnataka High Court challenging the sanction and proceedings against him, alleging that the CBI was applying mental pressure on him ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections by repeatedly issuing notices to him, even though the case dates back to 2020.
The issue began with an I-T raid on Shivakumar in August 2017. The raid came at a time when Shivakumar was playing host to 44 Congress MLAs from Gujarat, ahead voting in a Rajya Sabha election there.
The Congress had entrusted Shivakumar with the task of shielding the MLAs from alleged poaching attempts by the BJP.
In the early hours of 2 August, 2017, I-T officials and armed Central police forces entered the resort and conducted raids.
I-T searches were carried out at 67 locations connected to Shivakumar, his family, and friends across the country.
The I-T Department said at least ₹9 crore in unaccounted cash was found and properties worth crores were attached for an investigation.
Based on the I-T chargesheet, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) began its probe against him and registered a case of money laundering against Shivakumar in 2018.
Exactly 10 days after he was questioned by ED officials, Shivakumar was next on the CBI’s radar.
Based on the ED’s investigation, the CBI sought sanction from the state government to file an FIR against the Congress state president.
In September 2019, he was sent to Tihar Jail in connection with the case. He walked out weeks later when the Delhi High Court granted him conditional bail.
In the past, Shivakumar deemed the CBI’s action as “mental harassment” and questioned its timing.
He also alleged, “Many in the BJP also face disproportionate-assets cases, but none of them has the CBI searching their homes. The Assembly Speaker (Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri) hasn’t given the CBI permission to raid any other MLA; only I am being targeted.”
For Shivakumar, who is aspiring to be Congress’ chief-ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka, landing in jail once again is a threat.
(With PTI inputs)
