As Threat Of Arrest Looms Large, Karnataka Congress’ DK Brothers Allege Vendetta By Central Agencies

Congress MP from Bengaluru Rural Constituency D K Suresh has expressed apprehension that he and his brother, state Water Resources Minister and Vokkaliga Strongman D K Shivakumar, may be arrested by central agencies as part of the BJP’s vendetta politics, Deccan Herald reported.

Shivakumar and Suresh have been under the radar of central investigation agencies for over two years. Last year Income Tax (IT) sleuths raided about 80 properties linked to them.

Shivakumar, who declared assets worth over Rs 700 crore, was the richest candidate fielded by the Congress party in the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections. In his election affidavit, Shivakumar and his wife Usha had declared income and assets worth Rs 730 crore.

Last month, Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru had granted conditional interim bail to Shivakumar in a money laundering and hawala case.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Suresh alleged that “At any cost, they want to arrest Shivakumar and destabilise the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka. To do this, BJP leaders are misusing the IT department, ED and CBI.”

Suresh also charged that IT department, ED and the CBI have been reduced to a handmaiden of the central government and has become “morchas of the BJP”.

Suresh released a copy of a letter which he claimed was written by BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa to the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes Sushil Chandra, seeking action against Shivakumar and Suresh “for irregularities and corruption.”

Suresh further said that he will be seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to draw his attention on the alleged misuse of central agencies.

BJP Karnataka unit strongly hit back at Suresh and rub bushes his allegations. BJP said the letter Suresh released was “fake and photoshopped.”

In a series of tweets, the BJP pointed out differences in the letterhead of the “fake” letter by posting an image of another letter that Yeddyurappa had written.

Shivakumar shot to prominence when he played a pivotal role in sheltering Gujarat Congress MLAs at Eagleton Resort in Bidadi. Days later his properties were raided. At least Rs 5 crore was reportedly seized from one his flats in the Tony Safdarjung area in New Delhi.