"Ridiculous meaningless" BJP on Cong protests over CBI searches

    Bengaluru, Oct 5 (PTI) The BJP described as
"ridiculous and meaningless" protests by the Congress over CBI
conducting searches at multiple premises on Monday in a
corruption case related to party leader D K Shivakumar.
    Karnataka BJP spokesperson, Captain Ganesh Karnik said
CBI, ED & IT are institutions with functional autonomy to
investigate and bring to justice financial & criminal
fraudsters.
    "They are always on their job. The present raid is in
continuation of investigations started by ED in 2017," he
said.
    Stating that the BJP respects the functional autonomy
granted to these institutions for probity, Captain Karnik said
"the politically motivated protests (by Congress) are
ridiculous & meaningless."
    "The party (Congress) which was in power for such a
long time both at Centre & State should know the functioning
of these institutions better," Captain Karnik said.
    The CBI said it is carrying out searches at 14
locations in Karnataka, Delhi and Maharashtra in the case that
pertains to amassing of disproportionate assets.
    The CBI said it has registered a case against the then
Minister of Karnataka Government (Shivakumar who is now
President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee) and others
on the allegations of acquisition of disproportionate assets.
    "Searches are being conducted today at 14 locations
including 9 in Karnataka, 4 in Delhi, one in Mumbai," a CBI
statement said.
    According to sources, these locations being searched
include properties of Shivakumar's brother and MP from
Bengaluru Rural, D K Suresh.
    Congress leaders have hit out at the ruling BJP
governments at the State and the Centre following the
searches, questioning their timing ahead of November 3
bypolls to Sira and R R Nagar Assembly segments.
    Congress General Secretary in charge of Karnataka
Affairs, Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "The insidious game of
intimidation & machinations of Modi-Yeddyurappa duo being
executed by a puppet CBI by raiding @DKShivakumar wont deter
us. CBI should be unearthing the layers of corruption in
Yeddyurappa Govt".
    Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah said: "The latest CBI raid on
@KPCCPresident@DKShivakumar's house is another attempt to
derail our preparation for bypolls. I strongly condemn
this."PTI RS SS
PTI PTI

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)