D K Shivakumar raided: What next

The next question is will the Enforcement Directorate come into the picture.

After the Income Tax raids on D K Shivakumar, the question now is what next. He is currently consulting with his legal advisors after the IT department issued summons to him. The IT department had conducted raids on Shivakumar and his associates at various locations for over three days.

Now with the raids over, the IT put into place the next procedure and that was to issue summons against him. The summons were issued under Section 131 of the Income Tax Act. This relates to the collection of evidence on undisclosed earnings. This is a mandatory procedure.

The next step would be to question Shivakumar who is Karnataka's Energy minister. He would be asked about the income and also the documents that have been seized from him. Whether the answers are satisfactory or not, no immediate action would be taken against him.

After his statements are recorded, a report would be compiled. The report would contain the statements, the details of the raids and documents. Once done the report will be sent to New Delhi.

In New Delhi the Director General of the investigation wing would look into the report. If the need be and if found that the minister and his associates have not been truthful, a probe would be launched. Based on the probe the matter would be taken to court which would pass a final judgment.

The next question is will the Enforcement Directorate come into the picture. Currently there is a private complaint against Shivakumar filed with the ED in which it accuses him of wrongfully converting demonetised currency. The ED is seeking evidence in this case and if satisfied would proceed accordingly.

If the IT department report suggests that there has been money laundering of property purchased illegally then it can recommend to the ED to take over the probe. Unlike the IT department, ED has the right to arrest an individual.

OneIndia News