Delhi Court Sends Cong Leader DK Shivakumar to Judicial Custody till Oct 1 in Money Laundering Case

New Delhi: A Delhi court Tuesday sent Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar, arrested in a money laundering case by the ED, to judicial custody.

The Delhi court has sent Shivakumar to judicial custody till October 1. Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar directed the Enforcement Directorate to take Shivakumar to hospital first and see whether the doctor suggests admitting him there.

The probe agency claimed in the court that his interrogation was yet to be completed and sought permission from the judge to question him during the judicial custody.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, appearing for the ED, told the court that Shivakumar's health condition did not allow effective questioning.

The Congress leader's counsel opposed the ED plea for judicial custody and sought his bail on medical grounds.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Shivakumar, submitted in the court that the MLA's health condition was very serious and he was close to a heart attack; therefore, he be granted bail.

The ASG told the court that Shivakumar was taken to hospital as directed by court and due to his aliment, his interrogation could not be continued.

Singhvi further said that only Rs 41 lakh was recovered from Shivakumar and not Rs 8.5 crore, as alleged by the ED and now surprisingly the figure has become Rs 143 crore.

He alleged that ED is biased and mala fide and is lying before the court about the investigation.

The agency's claim about 317 bank accounts was only to spoil Shivakumar's image in media and public, he added.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, also representing Shivakumar and seeking bail for him, said he was a 7-time MLA and not a flight risk.

It is a case based on documentary evidence and there was no ground to keep Shivakumar in custody as he has no criminal antecedent, said Rohatgi.

He further said that this is a case of granting bail and the court can impose conditions; if not, then granting medical bail to Shivakumar should be considered.

Opposing the bail plea, ED said that it had taken care of his medical conditions.

It also alleged that laundering of money took place through bank accounts of the MLA and his family members.

Shivakumar, arrested on September 3 by the ED in a money laundering case, was produced before the court Tuesday on the expiry of his custodial interrogation.