DK Shivakumar, family, aides have 317 accounts, laundered Rs 200 crore: ED

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate said on Friday that its investigation till now has shown Congress leader D K Shivakumar, his family members and close associates owned 317 accounts in at least 20 banks collectively. It claimed to have discovered that Rs 200 crore had been laundered and that there were benami properties worth over Rs 800 crore in Shivakumar’s name. ED added that even his 22-year-old daughter had a transaction valued at Rs 108 crore in her name.

The submissions were made before special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar, who was hearing the agency’s plea seeking custody of Shivakumar for five more days.

The court remanded the politician in ED custody till September 17, observing that the ED’s interrogation could not be truncated when there was evidence with which the accused was to be confronted. “ED shall ensure that the accused takes all his prescribed medicines... examined after every 24 hours or earlier as and when required,” the court said. Judge Kuhar also allowed Shivakumar to meet his family members for half-an-hour every day, besides his family doctor.


The ED, through additional solicitor general K M Nataraj, alleged that its investigation has revealed that Shivakumar generated large sums of money by misusing his position as an MLA and a minister in the Karnataka government. “This fact is corroborated with deposits of more than Rs 200 crore, including substantial amounts of cash in three bank accounts, statements of which were received during the investigation,” its remand plea said.

The ED said that when confronted, the politician was not in a position to explain the source of these deposits.