5 things to know about DK Shivakumar, strong Karnataka Congress leader

The raids on the resort triggered angry reactions from the Congress. The issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha.

DK Shivakumar

New Delhi: Karnataka Power Minister DK Shivakumar is being raided by Income Tax sleuths in Bengaluru and New Delhi. The IT dept  conducted searches on Wednesday at multiple properties related to Shivakumar, who is managing the stay of 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs from Gujarat at Eagleton Golf Resort in Bengalurur, in connection with a tax evasion case. The massive IT raids were carried out at 39 premises of the minister and his family by by a team of about 120 Income Tax Department officials with the aid of central paramilitary forces. The raids are taking place in Delhi and Karnataka. Rs 5 crore cash was recovered from his Safdarjung Enclave residence in the national capital. 5 things to know about DK Shivakumar 

• DK Shivakumar was denied a Congress ticket to contest for the elections in 1989, but his political convictions and his popularity made him contest the elections as an independent candidate and he won the elections from Sathanur becoming an MLA of the state. He won the Kanakapura constituency during the elections in 2013 by garnering 1,00,007 votes against PGR Sindhia of Janata Dal-Secular who received 68,583 votes.
• He was one of the richest candidates contesting the polls with declared wealth of Rs. 251 Crore (an increase of Rs. 176 Crore from 2008 elections.
• Currently a Cabinet Minister in Government of Karnataka for energy department portfolio.
• Apart from his philanthropic activities and the positions that he holds in various bodies, institutions and trusts, he currently holds the portfolio of “Energy Minister” in the government led by Siddaramaiah.
• DK Shivakumar is known for his organizational capabilities. He is considered to be close to the Congress high command in New Delhi.