Rahul Gandhi took to micro-blogging site Twitter and said that Shivakumar's arrest is yet another example of vendetta politics unleashed by the government. "The arrest of DK Shivakumar is another example of the vendetta politics unleashed by the government, using agencies like the ED/CBI and a pliant media to selectively target individuals," he tweeted. Gandhi's remarks came a day after Shivakumar was arrested by the ED on Tuesday night in connection with a money laundering case.
After being grilled for nearly four days, Shivakumar was arrested late night on Tuesday. He was on the radars of both the Income Tax Department and ED post-demonetisation. Shivakumar is the second Congress leader to be arrested in the last fortnight by the investigation agencies. On August 20, the CBI arrested former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media case.
Not just Rahul Gandhi but several senior Congress leaders have dubbed the arrest of Shivakumar as 'political vendetta' by the BJP-led Central government. Another senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala too accused Central government and called the move an attempt to draw away attention from their own misdeeds.
"An economic emergency is prevailing in the country. In an attempt to draw away attention from their own misdeeds, the BJP Govt is taking false actions against @INCIndia leaders. Illegal arrest of Shri D.K. Shivakumar is one more such instance," he tweeted.
Protests broke out in several parts of Karnataka on Wednesday following the arrest of Shivakumar earlier in the day. Demonstrations and attempts to block roads by burning tires were reported from Ramanagara, Chennapattana and few neighboring towns. Here a bandh has been called by Shivakumar's supporters.
Shivakumar's Kanakapura assembly constituency falls under Ramanagara district. As a precautionary measure the district administration has declared holiday to schools and colleges on Wednesday. Incidents of stone-pelting on government buses was reported at Kanakapura last night following the Congress leader's arrest.
Shivakumar's health deteriorated after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday night. He was admitted to RML Hospital at 11 pm on Tuesday after complaining of chest pain. Medical examination revealed that his blood pressure had shot up.
According to reports, the arrested leader and former minister in Karnataka cabinet, will be produced by the ED before a Delhi court on Wednesday, where the ED is likely to demand the Congress leader’s custody for interrogation.