CBI raids Shivakumar's premises, recovers Rs 57 lakh

The CBI has registered a case against Congress leader DK Shiv Kumar, former Minister of Karnataka (Presently MLA) 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. Searches were conducted on Monday at 14 locations including Karnataka, Delhi, Mumbai at the premises of said MLA and others which led to recovery of cash of Rs.57 lakh(approx) and several incriminating documents including property documents, bank related information, computer hard disk etc.

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.Shivakumar was arrested on September 23 last year by ED in the money laundering case and was lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail under judicial custody. He was released a month later after Delhi High Court granted him bail.

Congress has condemed the raid and called it a political vendetta. 

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Let Modi & Yeddyurappa Govts & BJP’s frontal organizations i.e CBI-ED-Income Tax know that Congress workers & leaders will not be cowed down nor bow down before such devious attempts.

Our resolve to fight for people & expose BJP’s maladministration only becomes stronger. https://t.co/AfoJgxOsGl

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) October 5, 2020

Timing is surprising:

After getting bail and released from Tihar Jail, DK Shivakumar (DKS) was appointed as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president. Since last few months he was trying to strengthen the party. His taking over ceremony was marred due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. It was a simple celebration, much contrary to Congress culture.

The timing of the CBI raid is surprising as by-election to two assembly constituencies has been announced. DKS was in full swing and wanted to win both the seats. Out of thse two constituencies, one segment was won by Congress and that MLA defected to BJP causing by-election in Bengaluru Urban district. Another vacancy caused by the death of JD(S) MLA in Tumakuru district. Now Congress has finalised a candidate for this constituency, who lost to JD(S) in the last assembly elections.

As this is the first mini war after he became the KPCC president, naturally he wanted to prove his leadership but this raid has come in his way.