Shivakumar Money-Laundering Case: ED Summons Congress Leader To Appear Before It In Delhi

He was summoned hours after the Karnataka High Court declined his plea seeking a stay on the investigating agency's previous summons, issued to him on December 2018 in the case.

Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Minister D K Shivakumar has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case. (PTI)

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Minister D K Shivakumar has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case. ED in their fresh summon has asked the Congress leader to appear before it in Delhi today. He was summoned hours after the Karnataka High Court declined his plea seeking a stay on the investigating agency's previous summons, issued to him on December 2018 in the case. Shivakumar on Friday asserted that he will not run from the country after being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate. "I have requested Court that it's a simple Income Tax matter. I have already filed ITR. There's no Prevention of Money Laundering(PMLA) Act. Last night, they summoned me to come to Delhi by 1 pm. I will respect law," he was quoted as saying by ANI. "Have received summons from ED late yesterday night at 9.40 PM asking me to appear at 1 PM in Delhi today. Although the sudden scheduling by ED is malafide, I believe in rule of law and will definitely participate and fully cooperate with them and abide by the law of our country," he tweeted.

Have received summons from ED late yesterday night at 9.40 PM asking for me to appear at 1PM in Delhi today.

Although the sudden scheduling by ED is malafide, I believe in rule of law & will definitely participate & fully co-operate with them and abide by the law of our country. — DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) August 30, 2019

Saying that his "entire blood has been sucked by the various investigating agencies", he said, "From the past two years, the entire property of my 84-year-old mother has been attached by various investigation authorities as Benami property and I am the Benami there. Our entire blood has already been sucked." Alleging that he was facing a political case for protecting some MLAs, Shivakumar said, "Let it be. I will have to face it for doing good to someone. Yesterday, our application in the high court has been dismissed. I will speak to you on all matters. I'm going to Delhi." "I have not been able to meet my lawyers. Last night I was issued summons, they have asked me to appear by 1 (PM on Friday) urgently in Delhi. I have to meet my lawyers and have family commitments, after that I will go to Delhi," he added. Watch | ED Issues Notice To Congress Leader D.K. Shivakumar The ED had in September last year registered a money-laundering case against Shivakumar and few others on the basis of an alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions case. The agency had booked Shivakumar, Haumanthaiah, an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case has been filed based on a charge sheet (prosecution complaint) filed by the Income Tax Department against him early last year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores. (With inputs from agencies)