Decision to cancel nod for CBI probe into DKS assets case comes under fire from Oppn
BENGALURU: Terming the sanction given by the previous state government, led by Bharatiya Janata Party, for investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation against incumbent Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar into disproportionate assets case as “illegal,” the State Cabinet cancelled permission for CBI investigation against Shivakumar into his DA case.
The decision of the State cabinet to cancel permission for investigation by sleuths of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the disproportionate assets case against Deputy Chief Minister and president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) D.K. Shivakumar has come under fire from opposition parties-Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal Secular (JDS).
The previous State Government led BJP in Karnataka had given its nod for CBI investigation into the case in September, 2019 when B.S. Yeddyurappa was the Chief Minister and a year later CBI filed a First Information Report against D.K. Shivakumar.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil stated the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening decided to declare the sanction given by the previous BJP government as “illegal.” On Friday, Minister for Rural Development Priyank Kharge told a press conference in Bengaluru City that legal battle by Shivakumar would continue in the disproportionate assets case and the Cabinet decision of Thursday was only with regard to the permission given for the CBI probe. Kharge said, “Let the Court decide on the assets case.”
Drawing opposition over cancellation of permission for CBI probe against Shivakumar, BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal stated “It is a classic case on how politicians are able to circumvent judiciary using clout.” He said that Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty was personal counsel of D.K. Shivakumar who was defending him in various corruption cases. Continuing, Yatnal said, Shashikiran as AG recommended to the Karnataka cabinet to withdraw CBI consent to investigate Shivakumar and the Cabinet accepted it.
Stating to rake up the issue in the ensuing Belagavi assembly session starting on December 4, State JDS president and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy claimed that he came to know about the move to cancel permission for CBI investigation against Shivakumar about three days and a couple of days back Shivakumar held a meeting of advocates on ways to protect himself from CBI investigation.
State BJP unit president B.Y. Vijayendra said to chalk out future course of action against Cabinet decision to cancel permission for CBI probe against Shivakumar. Meanwhile, BJP decided to stage a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru City on Saturday over the Cabinet decision.
