Enforcement Directorate files chargesheet against Shivakumar in PMLA case

BENGALURU: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar and others in a money laundering case registered under the PMLA Act.

The ED had taken up the case based on a I-T Department complaint following raids on his house. Shivakumar had been arrested and lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi, for 48 days. He is currently out on bail.

Shivakumar had earlier told Public TV that he foresees trouble around August and that he would be targeted. Just 14 days after he made the statement, the ED chargesheet was filed. With the Assembly election slated next year, much will depend on how the case progresses and how it will affecte the Congress in Karnataka.

The KPCC chief has been accused of amassing wealth 125 times more than his known sources of income. Other allegations include illegal investments in granite businesses, acquiring benami properties, transferrings without valid documents, apart from the huge cash seized from his apartment in New Delhi.

Shivakumar and his family reportedly own more than 300 properties and about Rs 180 crore was in the bank accounts of his wife Usha Shivakumar and mother Gowramma. The family had claimed agricultural income of Rs 120 crore. Gowramma had claimed Rs 1 crore income from agriculture, but Rs 50 crore was found in her account.

Usha had shown agricultural income for six years and non-agricultural income for two years and Rs 17 crore had been transacted from her account.

The family allegedly owns benami properties worth Rs 800 crore and has 317 accounts in 20 banks. Shivakumar has 24 properties in his name, his brother and MP D K Suresh has 27 properties and mother has 38 properties in their names.

Daughter Aishwarya, at the age of 23, owned properties worth Rs 102 crore, acquired through real estate and granite businesses. She has taken loans of Rs 48 crore, but the source of loans is not mentioned.

Since Wednesday night, the family has organised rituals like Chandika homa, Gana homa, Navagraha homa, ostensibly to ward off enemies and obstacles.