Bengaluru, Oct 23: Former Prime Minister H DDeve Gowda and ex-Chief Ministers H D Kumaraswamy andSiddaramaiah welcomed the Delhi HighCourt order on Wednesday granting bail to Congress leader D K Shivakumar in a money laundering case, filed by the Enforcement Directorate.
As the news about Shivakumar getting bail broke, his supporters and Congress workers celebrated by bursting crackers and distributing sweets in Ramanagara, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Kanakapura, Mandya and near his Bengaluru residence.
"Delhi High Court granting bail to D K Shivakumar has increased common man's trust in country's judicial system. I welcome the court's decision," Gowda tweeted.
Shivakumar, a seven-time MLA, was arrested by the EDon September 3 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
"Getting bail from Delhi high court is happy news," Siddaramaiah told reporters at Bagalkote.
He alleged that Shivakumar was being politically targeted.
"...let them (ED) investigate, but sending to jail duringinvestigation is not right. On proving to be guilty one can besent to jail, but sending while the investigation is still onis not right. Vengeance politics is not right..," he added.
The 57-year-old Shivakumar is under judicial custody and presently lodged in Tihar jail.
Both the Congress and Shivakumar have claimed he was beingtargeted by the BJP-led government at the Centre by "misusing" investigating agencies.
"Delhi High Court granting bail to D K Shivakumar is a matter of happiness. On Monday I had met Shivakumar and tried to boost his courage, and expressed hope about him getting bail," Kumaraswamy tweeted.
The JD(S) leader who met Shivakumar at Tihar jail on Monday had said that the Congress leader was "bold" to fight "vengeance politics".
Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy, both Vokkaliga strong men, have been bitter political opponents in the old Mysuru region,until they came together for the formation of Congress-JD(S) coalition government, after 2018 assembly polls.
Shivakumar was a key minister in the Kumaraswamy cabinet and played a major rule in the stability of the coalition government until it collapsed in July, following resignation of several MLAs of the two parties, eventually leading to installation of the BJP government.
His arrest had lead to widespread protests, especially in Ramanagara, Bengaluru rural, Mandya and other parts of old Mysuru region.
It had even taken a caste colour with thousands of people belonging to the Vokkaliga community taking out a rally recently in Bengaluru protesting the arrest and expressing solidarity with him.
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Chandigarh, Dec 7: A Dubai-returned groom and his entourage of 150 'baraatis' were shocked when they arrived in Moga, Punjab, only to find his bride "missing" and that the wedding venue did not exist.
Deepak Kumar (24), who returned to Jalandhar from Dubai a month ago to marry Manpreet Kaur, who he had been talking to on Instagram for three years, but had never met, the police said.
After the incident the groom lodged a complaint against the bride, they said.
According to the police, the two had connected on Instagram three years ago but had never met in person.
Deepak said that he along with his family travelled from Mandiali village in Jalandhar to Moga for his wedding at the venue, as communicated by the bride.
Upon reaching Moga, the bride's family told that some people would escort him and his family to the wedding venue. However, even after waiting till 5 pm, no one showed up, he said.
He said they asked locals about the venue 'Rose Garden palace' but they informed that there was no such place in Moga.
The groom said that he worked as a labourer in Dubai and had been in touch with Kaur through Instagram since three years. He had seen her photos but never met her in person.
Their parents had arranged the wedding over phone calls, officials said, adding that he also claimed to have transferred Rs 50,000 to her earlier.
Deepak's father Prem Chand said he along with 150 'baraatis' came for the wedding, and that he had already hired taxis, paid for catering and a videographer.
Kaur hails from Moga and had earlier told that she works in Ferozepur, he said.
The marriage was fixed after speaking to her parents over the phone and guests were invited for the wedding, Chand said.
Meanwhile, Moga Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjinder Singh said they have received a complaint from Deepak Kumar.
He said the complaint was lodged after the groom's family could not reach the bride as her phone was switched off.
Further investigation in the matter is underway, he said.