Published 17:32 IST, October 1st 2019
DK Shivakumar's judicial custody extended, ED to quiz him in jail
The Special CBI court extended the judicial custody of Congress leader DK Shivakumar till October 15. It also allowed the ED to quiz him on October 4 and 5.
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The Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court at the Rouse Avenue Complex has extended the judicial custody of senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar till October 15. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar passed the order after he was produced before the court on the lapse of his 14-day custody in Tihar jail. Furthermore, the judge allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to interrogate Shivakumar in jail on October 4 and 5. Multiple investigating agencies have been probing him for the last two years pertaining to alleged money laundering on his part.
Prosecution's plea allowed
The ED’s Special Public Prosecutors Amit Mahajan, NK Matta and Nitesh Rana argued that the agency required to quiz him further. They gave the rationale that Shivakumar had to be repeatedly admitted to the hospital for various ailments, which created a hindrance for effective questioning. The counsel appearing for Shivakumar, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, stated that his client did not oppose the prosecution’s demand. He conveyed the willingness of the senior Congress leader to extend cooperation in every way possible.
The case against Shivakumar
The ED case against DK Shivakumar is based on the chargesheet filed by the Income Tax (I-T) department in 2018. Essentially, the I-T department raided 60 properties of Shivakumar and his associates in August 2017. It unearthed nearly Rs. 8.59 crore of cash at four of his premises in Delhi. The I-T department accused him of regularly transporting unaccounted cash through the Hawala network with the help of his four associates namely, Sachin Narayan, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah and N Rajendran. These associates were booked for abetment of false returns and giving false evidence. According to the I-T department, Shivakumar was instrumental in setting up a web of persons in Delhi and Bengaluru to transport and utilize the unaccounted cash. All of them were accused of tax evasion too.
Arrest proceedings
After the Karnataka High Court dismissed Shivakumar’s plea for quashing the ED summons on August 29, he was interrogated for 4 straight days. Thereafter, he was formally arrested. His custody was extended only till September 17, after which he was sent to Tihar jail till October 1. In the meantime, he moved the Delhi High Court seeking bail, which issued a notice to the ED on Monday. His brother and Member of Parliament DK Suresh too has been summoned by the ED.
17:12 IST, October 1st 2019