Delhi HC grants bail to DK Shivakumar in money laundering case

The Delhi high court on Wednesday (October 23) granted bail to Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar in a money laundering case filed the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Justice Suresh Kait granted relief to the Congress leader saying that Shivakumar is not a flight risk. The judge also said that Shivakumar cannot tamper with evidence as documents are with investigating agencies and there is no material to show he has influenced witnesses.

The court directed that he be released on bail on furnishing a bond of ₹25 lakh and two sureties of like amount.

Earlier, the Congress president Sonia Gandhi met Shivakumar in Tihar jail and enquired about his well being.

Also read: Sonia Gandhi meets Shivakumar in Tihar jail in a gesture of solidarity

Shivakumar, 57, was arrested by the ED on September 3 in the money laundering case. He is lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody and had challenged the trial courts order denying him bail in the case. 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 chargesheet filed by the Income Tax (I-T) 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 SK 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 agencies)