Karnataka: CBI Moves HC Against State's Decision To Drop Assets Case Against Deputy CM Shivakumar

Reacting to the decision, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said he knows that they (CBI) want to harass him.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) moved Karnataka High Court challenging the government's decision to withdraw sanction to the probe agency to investigate the disproportionate assets (DA) case against Shivakumar, and handing it over to the Lokayukta. Two months ago, Karnataka government approved a proposal to withdraw CBI probe against DK Shivakumar in an alleged DA case. The state government decided in a cabinet meeting under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah at Vidhansoudha in November 2023.

 

According to ANI, CBI moved Karnataka High Court after the State Government dropped the CBI case against Deputy CM DK Shivakumar case. The High Court is hearing the plea filed by BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal challenging the withdrawal of consent for CBI probe into corruption allegations against Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.

Reacting to the decision, Karnataka Deputy CM said, "I know that they want to harass me. The (Karnataka) government has taken a stand because it (referring to CBI probe in the disproportionate assets case) is politically motivated, and they have referred the matter to the Lokayukta. After withdrawing also, they are issuing notices to my friends, relatives, family members - all who have been associated with me for the last 30-40 years."

In 2018, the CBI filed an FIR against DK Shivakumar. In 2019, then Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa agreed to transfer the case to the central probe agency. The CBI was investigating Shivakumar for allegedly having assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Prior to this, the Income Tax department had conducted a search against him.