CBI raids premises of DK Shivakumar, brother in corruption case

The Central Bureau of Investigation began raids today (October 4) at the premises linked to Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh in Karnataka, Mumbai and other places in an alleged corruption case.

Sources said the Central agency registered the alleged corruption case based on inputs shared by the Enforcement Directorate over a money laundering probe linked to the tax evasion proceedings by the Income Tax Department.

The raids started at 6am at their residence located in Doddallahalli village in Kanankapura constituency, which is represented by Shivakumar in the state assembly. DK Suresh is the MP from Bengaluru Rural.

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One of the residences being raided is that of Iqbal Hussain, a close aide of Shivakumar.

During the money laundering probe, the Enforcement Directorate had forwarded some of their findings to the CBI last year. The Karnataka Congress described Monday’s raids, being conducted at 14 locations, as an “attempt to derail our preparation for the by-elections”.

Apart from DK Shivakumar, premises of his family members and his associates are also being searched in Karnataka and Maharashtra, sources said.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah tweeted: “@BJP4India has always tried to indulge in vindictive politics & misled public attention. The latest CBI raid on @KPCCPresident @DKShivakuma’s house is another attempt to derail our preparation for bypolls. I strongly condemn it,” he tweeted.

“What else can we expect after the expose on @bsybjp by @INCKarnataka,” Karti Chidambaram wrote on Twitter, attacking Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

Described as a troubleshooter within the Congress, Shivakumar officially took charge as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee in July, in a grand event that was streamed live for party leaders and cadres across the state.

Related news: ED summons DK Shivakumar in money laundering case

The oath-taking ceremony or ‘Prathigna Dina’ that took place at the new KPCC office at the Queens Road in Bengaluru central had just 150 party leaders in attendance.

However, to reach out to its party workers up to the grassroots level, the Congress, for the first time, decided to use technology in a big way and live-streamed the event to 7, 831 locations in the state through 12,000 LEDs placed in 6,608 panchayats, 30,000 Zoom platforms, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter live. There was also a telecast of the event in regional TV channels across the state.

A former minister, Shivakumar was appointed KPCC president on March 11, when he replaced Dinesh Gundu Rao who had resigned after Congress’ dismal performance in the by-elections held in 15 constituencies in November 2019.

Owing to COVID-induced lockdown, Shivakumar had delayed the official takeover of his new office.