Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed his desire to offer a profound gesture of gratitude to the Supreme Court by performing "sashtanga namaskara," a traditional salutation where one prostrates flat on the ground with all limbs touching the floor. His sentiment follows the Supreme Court's decision to quash the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) case against him.
In a conversation with journalists, Shivakumar described the Supreme Court's ruling as the pinnacle of happiness amidst his personal trials. He reiterated his innocence and expressed confidence in the ongoing legal proceedings, emphasizing that the errors made by the ED officials were becoming evident to the public. Additionally, he hinted at revealing further details about the ongoing activities of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in due course.
Reflecting on his experiences, Shivakumar acknowledged the support of Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and others during his legal battle. Despite facing adversities, he maintained his unwavering confidence and stressed that the ongoing investigations were part of the natural order, devoid of enmity.
The apex court's decision to dismiss the money laundering probe initiated by the ED stemmed from a special leave petition filed by Shivakumar against the Karnataka High Court's refusal to quash the summons issued to him by the agency. The ED had launched the investigation based on a charge sheet filed by the Income Tax Department, alleging unaccounted cash of approximately Rs 200 crore linked to Shivakumar and claiming control over numerous bank accounts and properties worth over Rs 800 crore.
Shivakumar's arrest in September 2019 and subsequent bail granted by the Delhi High Court in October 2019 marked significant milestones in the legal saga. Despite the ED filing a charge sheet against him in May 2022, Shivakumar challenged the legality of the probe, arguing against the invocation of criminal conspiracy charges in the absence of a predicate offence and contending that proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cannot be sustained without a scheduled offence under the Income Tax Act.
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