Published 21:04 IST, September 3rd 2019
DK Shivakumar arrested: Congress says 'vendetta', backs him officially
Responding to senior party leader DK Shivakumar's arrest by ED, Congress party took to Twitter and condemned the actions, calling it a political vendetta.
Karnataka Congress leader and former minister DK Shivakumar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday evening after four days of grilling in connection with a money laundering case. Responding to the sitting MLA's arrest, Sonia Gandhi-led Congress party took to Twitter and condemned the actions taken by the ED. Calling it "vendetta politics", Congress party claimed that the actions taken by the probe agency are yet another "attempt by the government to distract the public from the state of the economy".
In another tweet posted the Youth Congress, the party cried foul that the attempts are being made to "insult and humiliate" the leaders. Condemning the actions of the ED against DK Shivakumar, Congress party said that it stands in solidarity.
DK Shivakumar arrested
Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar was arrested by ED on the grounds that he was not cooperating with authorities during the questioning in the money laundering case. He was earlier questioned by the ED for the fourth day in connection to the money-laundering case on Tuesday. As per officials, DK Shivakumar has been placed under arrest under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), news agency PTI reported. As per sources, the Congress leader is likely to be produced before a court on Wednesday in Delhi by the ED. The probe agency will be seeking his custody in the court. While DK Shivakumar was being questioned by the ED for four consecutive days. he has been denying any wrongdoing. Earlier on August 29, Karnataka High Court rejected a petition filed by the Congress senior leader seeking to squash the summons issued by Enforcement Directorate to appear in front of them.
Second high-profile arrest
Congress leader DK Shivakumar's arrest by the ED has come days after the CBI arrested former Finance Minister P Chidambaram for questioning in the INX Media case. He was arrested by the CBI officials from his residence on August 21 following the high-end drama and has been CBI custody since then. During a hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, his CBI custody has been extended till September 5. He will be produced before the court on September 5.
Updated 21:35 IST, September 3rd 2019