Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is facing renewed legal troubles as the CBI has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the state government’s decision to halt its investigation into his alleged illegal wealth. The case revolves around accusations of Rs 75 crore in disproportionate assets, and the investigation has been ongoing since 2019.
The Siddaramaiah government withdrew the consent for the CBI probe in November 2022, transferring the case to the Lokayukta police. The CBI is contesting this move, arguing that withdrawing consent should not affect investigations that are already in progress. The agency insists it is obligated to file a final report in the case.
When asked about the CBI’s persistence, Shivakumar responded sarcastically, saying, “CBI loves me a lot and is not leaving me,” and alleged that the investigation is politically motivated. He further questioned why BJP members facing similar charges have not been investigated, pointing to the selective nature of the CBI’s actions.
The case against Shivakumar originally began in 2017, when the Income Tax Department raided his premises. Following this, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and referred the case to the state government after allegedly discovering illegal wealth.
