Published 21:50 IST, September 3rd 2019
KC Vennugopal on DK Shivakumar's arrest: calls the ED and CBI puppets
KC Venugopal slammed the BJP Government over the arrest of DK Shivakumar by the ED on Tuesday, and called the ED and the CBI 'puppets' of the Central Government
KC Venugopal has slammed the BJP Government over the arrest of DK Shivakumar in a money laundering case on Tuesday. The Congress leader called the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI 'puppets' of the Central Government. He also claimed that the arrest was made to hide the failures of the economic slowdown by the BJP Government. The former MP accused the BJP of following a pattern to harass the opposition leaders with false cases and allegations against them.
DK Shivakumar arrested
The ED arrested Congress leader DK Shivakumar in connection to a money laundering case on Tuesday, the officials said. The leader was placed under arrest at 8:38 pm. He was first summoned by the ED on August 30, and has been facing questions for the last four days. The arrest happened under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to sources, the leader has not been cooperating with the officials.
Another Congress leader, Randeep Sujrewala has condemned the arrest of DK Shivakumar. In a public statement by the Congress leader, he accused the BJP Government of political vendetta and vengeance. He also claimed that DK Shivakumar has been cooperating with the authorities. In the statement, he further accused the authorities of being a political 'puppet'.
Plea rejected
After Karnataka High Court rejected the Congress leader's anticipatory bail plea, he appeared before the ED on August 30. The leader took to social media and said that he had received a summon from the ED on August 28. The Karnataka Congress leader was arrested under the PMLA. He also said that he believes in the law and will cooperate with the officials.
Shivakumar tweets between arrest
Amidst the drama involving his arrest, DK Shivakumar tweeted against the centre. In his tweets he blamed the IT and ED, and perturbed that the cases against him were 'politically motivated', however he went on to add that he trusts the country's judiciary. He congratulated the BJP for being successful in their alleged plans against him. He said that he is a victim of vendetta politics.
Charges against DK Shivakumar
DK Shivakumar and his associates have been accused of transporting undisclosed tax money through different hawala channels. He has been arrested for suspicions of tax invasions and illegal transactions worth crores. The ED reportedly is looking into money laundering case amounting to Rs 20 crores.
Updated 23:53 IST, September 3rd 2019