CBI Court extends ED custody of DK Shivakumar till September 17

The Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue Court Complex today extended the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) custody of Congress leader DK Shivakumar till September 17. The ED had filed a case in connection with a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) .

. Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar told the investigating officer,

. “First take care of his medical requirements, only then ask questions.”

. The Court also told the ED to file its response to Shivakumar’s bail plea.

. Appearing for the ED, ASG KM Nataraj argued that during his nine days in custody, DK Shivakumar was evasive and gave irrelevant answers during the interrogation.

. It was also claimed that a number of his properties were Benami and that tainted money was diverted through 317 bank accounts.

. “As per the investigation till now, tainted money is more than Rs 200 crore and there is Rs 800 crore worth benami property”, Nataraj submitted.

. Responding to the ED’s plea for five additional days of custody of Shivakumar, the judge said,

. “I am sure he won’t answer questions in the next five days also. Why do you need his custody?”

. Nataraj replied,

. “There are statements by some other accused and he needs to be confronted with it.”

. Appearing for Shivakumar, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi claimed that his client was suffering from poor health. He said,

. “Irrespective of what happens today, my argument is that he should be in a hospital.”

. He also argued that police remand should not be granted in a routine manner.

. In response to arguments surrounding the proceeds of the alleged offence, Singhvi said,

. “You can’t unendlessly keep tracing proceeds of crime. Predicate case should be the focus.”

. He pointed out that the Karnataka High Court had ordered a stay on the proceedings in the predicate offence.

. Shivakumar had also addressed the Court today. He said,

. “They summoned me, I did not avoid. I am a law abiding citizen.”

. On September 4, the Special CBI Court had sent DK Shivakumar to ED custody till September 13 in connection with a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) .

. Shivakumar was arrested by the ED on September 3 after undergoing four days of interrogation in relation to the case. The ED had cited Shivakumar’s non-cooperation during the questioning as the reason for his arrest.

. A money laundering case was registered against DK Shivakumar pursuant to an ECIR registered on the basis of information from a complaint filed by the Income Tax authorities for offences punishable under Section 276C(1), 277 and 278 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 read with Section 193, 199 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

. The ED has contended that DK Shivakumar generated a huge amount of cash illegally during his tenure as a public servant. However, during the interrogation, he remained evasive and did not explain the illegal generation of money, ED argued. It was stated that Shivakumar made a conscious effort to misguide the investigation and that he has not explained the seizure of cash by Income Tax Department authorities.

. On August 29, the Karnataka High Court dismissed a batch of petitions filed by Shivakumar and others seeking quashing of summons issued by the ED in relation to the case.

. Read the Order :

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CBI Court extends ED custody of DK Shivakumar till September 17

Aditi Singh