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.
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.
Doha, Riyadh, and Baghdad have denounced Israel's recent land grab in Syria near the occupied Golan Heights, with Israeli forces advancing into the buffer zone following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad's government.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry labelled the incursion a "dangerous development" and a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and international law. The statement added that Israel's actions could exacerbate violence and tension in the region.
Saudi Arabia echoed these sentiments, calling the move a continuation of Israel’s disregard for international rules and an impediment to Syria's recovery. Iraq similarly criticised the incursion as a "grave violation" and urged the United Nations Security Council to take decisive action.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the occupation of the buffer zone, calling the Golan Heights Israel’s territory "for eternity." The recent incursion reportedly follows intensified Israeli air strikes across Syria targeting military assets in key locations, including Damascus, Homs, and Latakia.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims Israel has conducted over 100 strikes in Syria since Sunday, aiming to dismantle military capabilities linked to the former regime. However, the UN has deemed Israel's actions a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
Despite condemnation from Arab nations and the UN, Israel maintains its measures are "limited and temporary," citing security threats near the border.