Karnataka Congress Leader DK Shivakumar Granted Bail By Delhi HC In Money Laundering Case

Earlier in the day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi met Shivakumar in Tihar jail and assured him of all support from the party.

Image: PTI

New Delhi: In a major relief to Jailed Karnataka Congress leader D K Shivakumar, the Delhi High Court granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,0000 in connection with a money laundering case. Kumar is lodged in Tihar Jail in judicial custody and his bail plea was rejected by the trial Court earlier. Justice Suresh Kait had reserved the order on October 17 on the leader's bail plea in which he claimed that the case was a result of political rivalry and there was not enough evidence against him. Earlier in the day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi met Shivakumar in Tihar jail and assured him of all support from the party. Shivakumar, 57, was arrested by the ED on September 3 in the money laundering case. He is lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody. He has challenged the trial court's order denying him bail in the case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed his bail plea saying he was an influential person and, if released, he could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses. Shivakumar, a seven-time MLA in Karnataka, was booked along with Haumanthaiah -- an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi-- and others for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case was based on a charge sheet filed by the Income Tax Department against them last year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and 'hawala' transactions worth crores or rupees. The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate S K Sharma of indulging in transactions involving huge amounts of unaccounted money on a regular basis through 'hawala' channels with the help of three other accused. (with inputs from PTI)