New Delhi, March 5 (IANS) The Supreme Court quashed a money laundering probe initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The bench presided over by Justice Surya Kant was hearing a special leave petition filed by Shivakumar against summons issued by the central anti-money laundering agency. The ED had initiated the probe based on the charge sheet filed by the I-T Department.
The ED discovered approximately Rs 200 crore unaccounted cash belonging to Shivakumar during the probe. The money was found in over 317 bank accounts across 20 banks under Shivakumar’s control. The agency also alleged the discovery of benami properties worth over Rs 800 crore linked to Shivakumar. He was arrested in September 2019 and granted bail by the Delhi High Court in October 2019.
In his plea against the ED probe, Shivakumar contended that the offence of criminal conspiracy cannot be invoked without a predicate offence. He also argued that since the offence under the Income Tax Act is not a scheduled offence, proceedings under the PMLA cannot be continued. The decision of the Supreme Court to quash the probe marks a significant development in Shivakumar’s legal battle against the money laundering charges.
The case has been a long-standing legal battle for the Congress leader, with his arrest in 2019 and subsequent charge sheet by the ED in 2022. The quashing of the probe by the Supreme Court brings a new turn in the case, raising questions about the legal validity of the investigation. The ruling is seen as a major relief for Shivakumar, who has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
