Bengaluru: Even as the CBI stated that the raids at Congress leader D K Shivakumar’s places had led to the recovery of cash of Rs 57 lakh and several incriminating documents including property documents, bank related information, computer hard disk, the KPCC chief said the agency’s action was politically motivated.
The CBI said it had registered a case against a former minister of Karnataka government (presently an MLA) on the allegations of possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 74.93 crore in his name and in the name of his family members.
According to the central agency, the raids were conducted at 14 locations in Karnataka, Delhi and Mumbai, in the premises of the MLA and of others related to the case. It also stated that the raids followed a preliminary enquiry registered in March 2020 against the said MLA and others after the Karnataka government issued a notification under section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which was followed by a notification under section 5 of the DSPE Act issued by the Centre.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said, “In 2017, during the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, the I-T department raided my house. In 2018, the economic offences court filed a Benami case against me. In 2019, the Enforcement Directorate filed a case of money laundering against me and I had to spend 48 days in Tihar Jail, till the Delhi High Court granted me bail. In 2020, the CBI has filed a case. This shows it is clear that it is politically motivated.”