Karnataka: DK Suresh not allowed to see sick DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s brother and MP from Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency D.K. Suresh was denied permission by Income Tax department officials twice when he went to his brother’s residence at RMV Extension in Sadashivanagar on Friday.

Mr Suresh engaged in an argument when the CRPF personnel guarding Mr Shivakumar’s bungalow denied him permission, informing him that nobody is allowed inside till the search operation is over. Though Mr Suresh was let inside, he was asked to sit in a room and IT officials denied him permission to meet Mr Shivakumar.

Dr B. Ramana Rao returns after visiting Shivakumar who fell sick in the morning.

After coming out, he told reporters that he wanted to meet his brother to discuss several important things. “I wanted to meet him as it is Varamahalakshmi festival today and also had to discuss a few important issues related to the Gujarat MLAs staying at the resort, as we have decided to do a few things immediately. But the IT officials told me that one can meet him till the search is over. They hinted that the searches might get over by evening.”

Police stop Youth Congress members who took out a torchlight rally in support of Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar near his residence in Bengaluru on Friday.

Sometime after Mr Suresh left the place, Mr Shivakumar, who is being questioned by the IT officials continuously, reportedly complained that he was not keeping well. Doctor Ramana Rao was called in and he treated Mr Shivakumar at the house. However, Dr Rao refused to speak to the media about the condition of the minister.

After coming to know about the doctor’s visit, Mr Suresh returned again to see his brother, but again the CRPF personnel did not allow him inside. An upset Mr Suresh engaged in an argument with them for a while. The IT officials intervened and finally let him in, but did not allow him to meet Mr Shivakumar.

Supporters of Energy Minister D.K Shivakumar in front of his house in Bengaluru during IT raids on Friday

Mr Suresh said that the IT officials are unnecessarily dragging the search procedure and it is clear that the raid is nothing but a political vendetta. “The officials have assured us that they will speak to their seniors and then allow me to meet my brother,” he said.

He alleged that some TV channels were showing baseless news about the raids. “There is no official confirmation from the IT department, but some channels are falsely reporting that cash and gold have been seized during the raids. We will file a defamation case against such channels.”