KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar dubbed the CBI raids on his residence as "politically motivated" and accused the BJP of trying to "silence him". However, the CBI stated that the raids had led to the recovery of cash of Rs 57 lakh and several incriminating documents including property documents, bank related information, computer hard disk.
Following the raids, the CBI said it had registered a case against a former minister of Karnataka government (presently an MLA) on the allegations of possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 74.93 crore in his name and in the name of his family members.
The CBI stated that the raids were conducted at 14 locations in Karnataka, Delhi and Mumbai, in the premises of the MLA and of others related to the case. It also stated that the raids followed a preliminary enquiry registered in March 2020 against the said MLA and others after the Karnataka government issued a notification under section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which was followed by a notification under section 5 of the DSPE Act issued by the Centre.
Almost 10 hours after the CBI raided the residences of Shivakumar, his brother, mother and aides in Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, Shivakumar, during a press meet, claimed that the CBI had found no big money and that the corruption case did not warrant a CBI probe too.
"In 2017, during the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, the I-T department raided my house. In 2018, the economic offences court filed a Benami case against me. In 2019, the Enforcement Directorate filed a case of money laundering against me and I had to spend 48 days in Tihar Jail, till the Delhi High Court granted me bail. In 2020, the CBI has filed a case. This shows it is clear that it is politically motivated," said Shivakumar, adding that he was being targeted each time around some crucial election.
"The Congress party raised a lot of issues of corruption by the state government and were planning a massive agitation against the UP (Hathras) incident. So, they are trying to silence me, like they tried to silence my leader (Rahul Gandhi) in UP. Moreover, the byelections are round the corner and they don't want me to be here. But you cannot intimidate me with these cases, the raids or the jail," said Shivakumar, who alleged the state government was behind the raids.
"The CBI filed the FIR on September 30, ahead of the by-polls. The chief minister gave permission to the CBI to probe into the corruption charges, though he could have referred it to the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) of the state, as opined by the Advocate General. The AG had given his opinion that all the legislators and MPs are public servants and the ACB could probe it and not the CBI," said Shivakumar.
The Vokkaliga strongman demanded to know why the same charges were being probed again and again.
"This is nothing but harassment. The IT and ED are harassing at least 140 persons including my relatives and friends. How would you respond if your family was subject to such harassment? If you think you can silence me it is only a whim. In the last 30 years, I have been elected seven times to the Assembly and served as a minister for Urban Development minister, cooperation, power and irrigation. You have scanned through all the files, but there has been no inquiry or commission against me. No court has pronounced me as guilty. Is there a single FIR against me other than what the ED and CBI have filed?" asked Shivakumar.
He warned the BJP, saying he had documents against them.
"I have all the RTI documents and files and will use it at an appropriate time," he said.
Earlier, Shivakumar addressed the Congress party workers who had gathered in large numbers outside his house to protest against the CBI raids.
"Your support and goodwill towards me is priceless. As an MLA, minister or the party president, I have never done anything that would tarnish the party. I have been the target since 2017. I am not one to be cowed down by the political conspiracy and pressure," said Shivakumar.
Dismissing the TV channel reports about the CBI recovering huge cash from his house, Shivakumar said, "I have two flats in Delhi and a house in Bengaluru and the CBI must have recovered around Rs 1.75 lakh from my house. I am not answerable to what they might have found in others' houses. I was watching TV, had lunch and was relaxing at home. The CBI was counting every shirt, saree, chair and table in the house. I will cooperate with them," said Shivakumar, who also urged the party workers to work hard for the upcoming by-polls.
Slamming the BJP, Shivakumar said, "They are targeting only me. The ministers in this government are all the grandsons of Satyaharishchandra. I pray to God to bless those who are troubling me politically and trying to silence me."
Bengaluru South MP D.K. Suresh said he and his brother would not be intimidated by any political conspiracy and were ready to face a hundred challenges.
