Not aware of the case for which I got ED summons, says Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Sep 16: Congress president in Karnataka, D K Shivakumar, who has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Friday said he was not aware of the case for which he has been asked to appear before the central agency.
Alleging that those who have business transactions with him are being questioned, Shivakumar said he is unable to understand what illegal acts he has committed.
The ED had earlier arrested Shivakumar on September 3, 2019 in a money-laundering case and the Delhi High Court granted him bail in October that year.
The agency had, in May this year filed the charge sheet against him and others in the case which it had registered as a corollary to a complaint filed by the Income Tax (I-T) department.
The I-T department, during the initial probe, had allegedly found "unaccounted and misreported" wealth linked to the Congress leader.
Shivakumar had rejected the charges against him as "baseless" and "politically motivated."
Addressing reporters today, he said: "Everyday people around me, those who have business transactions with me are being called by ED and CBI and are being questioned. I have asked in the High Court about its origins. I do not know about the case registered by ED, only CBI had filed FIR. What FIR has ED filed and why, I don't know."
The former Minister said there was one case in which a charge sheet was filed by the ED, and that he had appeared before the court in connection with that case.
"With regard to the second case, some people are being investigated about me, I don't know why they are doing it. I will try to know about it. They have called me on Monday, I'm discussing with my advocates. The assembly session is on and there is also 'Bharat Jodo march', I have my own responsibilities too."
Calling the action of the ED as "harassment", both Shivakumar and Congress party have questioned the timing of the summons when the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' was on and when the State Assembly session was underway.
They have accused the Narendra Modi-headed government at the Centre of having brought the ED - "the Election Dept of BJP"- to target him.
He said he doesn't know what case the ED has summoned him for. In CBI, there is a disproportionate assets case for which the then government led by B S Yediyurappa had given permission (for prosecution), and an FIR has been booked in that case.
Asked whether he will appear before ED, he said, "let's see....but I will cooperate. Our workers are a bit upset looking at the harassment; all those who were with me are being harassed. I'm unable to understand what illegal things I have committed."
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
