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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. (Image: PTI)
The previous BJP government had granted sanction for the CBI to prosecute Shivakumar, leading to the FIR and subsequent investigation into allegations of disproportionate assets
Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Monday reiterated his innocence after the Supreme Court dismissed his plea challenging the high court’s decision not to quash a disproportionate assets case filed against him by the CBI.
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma declined to interfere with the high court’s October 19, 2023, order rejecting Shivakumar’s request to dismiss the case.
“We had sought for FIR to be quashed, the High Court said it cannot be done, I had filed an appeal, now I have got a message that they (Supreme Court) too have said it cannot be done. Will abide by whatever the court says,” Shivakumar told the media.
Shivakumar, who also serves as the state Congress President, said that the state government had withdrawn sanction to the CBI to prosecute him and handed over the case to the Lokayukta. Hence, the CBI can’t conduct the investigation.
“Investigation will be there (to face). Despite saying that the CBI should not do the investigation, they are doing it. The Lokayukta is also doing the investigation. Let them do it, I have done no wrong,” he stated.
Addressing the continuation of the CBI’s investigation, Shivakumar remarked, “Once our government withdrew (prosecution sanction), once the case was given to Lokayukta, CBI cannot do the investigation, but they (CBI) have gone to the court and things are going on. I will give whatever is necessary, my assets and liabilities.”
When asked about the intent behind these actions, he replied, “How can I speak on the court (matters)? Will have to abide by the court, that’s all.”
About the case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed the FIR on September 3, 2020, and Shivakumar challenged it in the high court in 2021.
The previous BJP government had granted sanction for the CBI to prosecute Shivakumar, leading to the FIR and subsequent investigation into allegations of disproportionate assets.
However, the current Karnataka cabinet under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah determined on November 23 last year that the BJP government’s sanction for the CBI investigation was legally flawed and decided to withdraw it, issuing a government order to this effect.
Following Income Tax (IT) department raids on Shivakumar’s residences and offices in 2017, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated its own investigation. Based on the ED’s findings, the CBI sought sanction from the state government to proceed with filing an FIR against Shivakumar.
(With inputs from PTI)