BENGALURU: Following the summons issued by Special Court for Economic Offences, Water Resources and Medical Education, Minister D K Shivakumar is seems to be mulling over applying for an anticipatory bail to avoid imprisonment. With rumours of Shivakumar’s arrest doing rounds, the minister consulted with his legal team at his Sadashivanagar residence.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said that he had not received any summons. “I do not have any connection with the money found with Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah (Liaison officer at Karnataka Bhavan). All these developments have shocked me. I have faith in courts and judiciary,” he said.To a question, he said that he regularly visited Delhi and stayed at his flat and was not involved in any Hawala business.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders continued to defend Shivakumar by levelling allegations at the Central government. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said that Shivakumar was being repeatedly hounded by misusing Central government agencies such as CBI, ED and IR departments. “It is wrong to misuse these agencies. We are firmly behind Shivakumar,” he said.
KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao questioned whether Shivakumar was the only one with allegations of disproportionate income. “Is IT department only looking at Congress leaders? Is there nobody in BJP with cases of disproportionate income?” he questioned.