Not accused of terrorism, no point keeping me in endless custody, D K Shivakumar tells court
New Delhi, Sep 18: Karnataka Congress leader D K Shivakumar told a Delhi court Wednesday that there was no point keeping him in "endless custody" in the money laundering case, since he was not accused of "terrorism" or any other heinous offence.
Shivakumar's counsels, A M Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi, told the court that he had already given information about his around Rs 800 crore property in his election affidavit and "if I (politician) gave wrong information, it can lead to prosecution".
Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar posted the matter for hearing on September 19 after the Enforcement Directorate's counsel, Amit Mahajan, sought an adjournment.
The agency, also represented by Special Public Prosecutors N K Matta and Nitesh Rana, told the court that Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj was not available so the matter be posted for Thursday.
During the brief hearing, Shivakumar's counsel told the court that he had disclosed everything in his poll affidavit.
He added that out of Rs 108 crore sent to Shivakumar's daughter Aisshwarya's bank account, Rs 40 crore was loan from him, which was also shown as money laundering.
"Vokalliga community is very prominent in farming, having large amount of agricultural land. These are my family's land which I acquired hereditary. This is again shown as money laundering...
"I am not charged for heinous offences, like terrorism etc. What is point of endlessly keeping him there (custody)," Shivakumar said through his counsel.
Shivakumar was on Tuesday sent to a 14-day judicial custody till October 1.
The sitting MLA from Kanakapura assembly seat is in ED custody since his arrest on September 3.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Snowfall blocks two key roads providing alternative connectivity to Kashmir
Rajouri/Jammu (PTI): Traffic on the Mughal and Sinthan Top roads, which provide alternate connectivity to Kashmir, was temporarily suspended on Sunday due to light to moderate snowfall in the high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
However, traffic on the 270-kilometre Jammu-Srinagar national highway -- the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country -- was plying as usual despite intermittent rains that ended the over one-and-a-half months long dry spell, they said.
ALSO READ: India overpowered by Minhas' big hundred and pacers as Pakistan clinch U19 Asia Cup
The Mughal road, which connects the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with south Kashmir's Shopian, was closed for traffic as a precautionary measure after more than three inches of snow was recorded at Peer Ki Gali on Sunday afternoon.
A group of three tea vendors are left stranded on the road and efforts are on to evacuate them to safety, officials said.
After they were trapped in the snow, the vendors made passionate appeals through video messages urging the authorities to rescue them. The Border Roads Organisation has taken up snow clearance work and is trying to reach the stranded persons, officials said.
The Sinthan Top road, which connects Kishtwar and Doda districts in Jammu with south Kashmir's Anantnag, was also closed after moderate snowfall in the higher reaches.
Both the mountainous roads usually remain closed for several months due to heavy snowfall during winter.
