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Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar targets Centre over ED case, says BJP trying to destabilise Congress-JD(S) govt

The ED has registered a money laundering case against Shivakumar and few others on the basis of an alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions case.

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Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar, who has been booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged money laundering, on Wednesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre. 

"I know how you (BJP) are trying to destabilise the government (Congress-JD(S) coalition govt in Karnataka) as Lok Sabha elections are coming up. You want to damage my Party," Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru. 

Claiming that the BJP has offered crores to Congress MLAs, he said, "You can't form a government here. You are having a daydream. I know how many MLAs you are trying to block and how many crores you offered."

The ED has registered a money laundering case against Shivakumar and few others on the basis of an alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions case. The agency has booked Shivakumar, Haumanthaiah, an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said on Tuesday.

The case has been filed based on a chargesheet (prosecution complaint) filed by the Income Tax Department against him early this year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores.

The agency is expected to summon the accused soon for recording their statements.

Shivakumar said he has always cooperated with authorities and will not run away. 

"I was admitted in hospital due to food poisoning. I am not a coward to run away. Does ED need a year to register file a case? I haven't got any notices. I am law abiding citizen and always cooperated with authorities. I am ready to face any kind of consequences," he said. 

Congress and the JD(S) have been accusing the Modi government of using the central agencies such as CBI, ED and Income Tax department to harass state senior minister DK Shivakumar for taking on the BJP time and again.

However, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday rejected the accusation made by the Congress and JD(S) that central agencies were being misused to harass the ruling coalition leaders in Karnataka, saying he did not think such things happen.

"I don't think, it is the job of CBI or ED to harass people. I don't think such things happen. People should stop making such accusations. It is not good.

Aren't we all sitting together or not?" said Singh pointing to chief minister HD Kumaraswamy who was sitting next to him.

The IT Department has accused Shivakumar and his associate S K Sharma of transporting huge amount of unaccounted cash on a regular basis through 'hawala' channels with help of three other accused.

"As per facts and analysis of evidence, it is clear that accused number 1 (Shivakumar) has set up an extensive network of persons and premises across Delhi and Bengaluru in order to transport and utilise unaccounted cash," the department had said.

Other accused are Sachin Narayan, Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah and N Rajendra, it said.

Unaccounted cash of approximately Rs 20 crore was found and seized during raids in New Delhi and Bengaluru last August which were directly relatable to Shivakumar, it had said.

Shivakumar has alleged that the IT department was targeting him and not letting him breathe but he would fight the case legally.

A special court had given Shivakumar a conditional bail in this case sometime back and the next date of hearing is September 20.

Shivakumar was instrumental in ensuring the safe stay of Gujarat Congress legislators in a Karnataka resort during Rajya Sabha polls last year amid allegations that the BJP was trying to poach them.

(With PTI inputs) 

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