Supreme Court Clears DK Shivakumar of Money Laundering Charges
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar received significant relief as the Supreme Court dismissed a 2018 money laundering case against the Congress leader. The case involved accusations of tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores.
In September 2019, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials apprehended the Congress leader regarding this case. Subsequently, the Delhi High Court granted him bail the following month. Mr. Shivakumar then accused the BJP of engaging in political vendetta and expressed his complete trust in the judiciary.
Following raids conducted by the Income Tax department on premises associated with him and his associates in 2017, the ED initiated an investigation against the Congress leader. During these raids, officials claimed to have recovered cash amounting to nearly ₹300 crore. In response, Mr. Shivakumar countered by alleging that the cash was connected to the BJP.
Today, the court stated that the Supreme Court has already resolved the issue of whether Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code can serve as an independent predicate offense for the Enforcement Directorate to invoke the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
In November of the previous year, the Supreme Court determined that criminal conspiracy, as delineated in Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, will be classified as a scheduled offense under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act solely if the purported conspiracy is aimed at committing an offense listed in the Schedule to the Act. The Enforcement Directorate has requested a reconsideration of this judgment.
Today, the court stated that the agency has the liberty to seek a recall of today’s order if the review request is granted.
In 2019, Mr. Shivakumar approached the Karnataka High Court seeking the dismissal of summons issued by the ED. After finding no relief there, he subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court.
Another corruption case involving Mr. Shivakumar has sparked a significant political controversy in Karnataka. Recently, the government led by Siddaramaiah revoked the authorization for the CBI to investigate the case. The central agency, which had received approval for the investigation before the Congress assumed power in Karnataka, has now contested the new government’s decision in court.
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