Shivakumar plea over DA case dismissed

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar suffered another setback in his Disproportionate Assets (DA) case as the High Court dismissed a petition seeking to quash the sanction granted to CBI by the State government.

The single judge bench held that the permission granted by the sitting government constituted consent rather than sanction. “It is not a sanction as required under either Sections 19 or 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Justice K Natarajan said.

Shivakumar’s petition contended that in granting sanction to CBI, the State government hadn’t applied its mind. The Karnataka Congress chief has in the past claimed that it was vindictiveness on part of the BJP government because institutions like the Karnataka Lokayukta could have just as easily dealt with the case.

Troubles began for the Kanakapura MLA when the Income Tax Department carried out a raid on several properties owned by him in August 2017, alleging that they had recovered some Rs41 lakh from his premises alone. A case was registered against Shivakumar in the Special Court For Economic Offences under the Income Tax Act.

Thereafter, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also registered a case and he was arrested on September 3, 2019. Several days later, the ED special director wrote to the State government citing the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The case was eventually referred to the CBI.