DK Shivakumar Appears Before Lokayukta For Probe into Alleged Disproportionate Assets Case

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar appeared before the Lokayukta for an investigation related to an illegal assets case. The Lokayukta police are probing allegations that Shivakumar acquired illegal assets between 2013 and 2018, following a notice issued to him.

The Lokayukta had earlier directed Shivakumar to attend the investigation on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after appearing before the Lokayukta, Shivakumar said: "Lokayukta had issued summons yesterday, I couldn't appear as I was on a visit to Almatti. So I had requested it for today and they had given me time today. For about three hours they have questioned me, they have inquired. I have answered them. They have sought for more documents, so I will submit them."

"After studying things", the Lokayukta will once again issue him a notice to appear, he said. "One thing is that CBI is better than them (Lokayukta). They are asking a number of questions and on different things. The CBI has not asked me anything yet, they haven't called me yet. But they (Lokayukta) have called me and are troubling me."

Noting that the case has been transferred by the State government from CBI to Lokayukta, Shivakumar said Lokayukta has been probing the case since the last six months.

"...CBI should have stopped the investigation, but they have not stopped. They are harassing all my people. They have still not summoned me, but they are harassing a lot of my friends and relatives. More than hundred people have been harassed. Now these people (Lokayukta) have also started in the same way," he added.

The CBI had previously been investigating the case but had its permission withdrawn by the state government, with the case then transferred to the Lokayukta.

Meanwhile, the Lokayukta police filed an FIR and issued a notice for Shivakumar to appear for the investigation.