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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Bengaluru: The Bengaluru city police on Friday told the Karnataka High Court that actor Darshan, the prime accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, had misused his interim bail granted for back surgery, as he had not yet undergone the procedure. They argued that Darshan should be directed to surrender and that his bail should be cancelled.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) P. Prasanna Kumar informed the court that five weeks had passed since Darshan was granted medical bail to undergo surgery, but there was no indication that the surgery had been performed. He argued that the actor was misusing the court's sympathy and requested that the interim bail be cancelled.
“For five weeks, they are not doing anything. My submission is that the interim bail should be cancelled. And ask him (Darshan) to surrender and then consider his regular bail application. There is misuse of the sympathy shown by this Court,” Kumar was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.
Kumar further disputed claims from Darshan's counsel and doctors, who had stated that surgery was delayed due to fluctuating blood pressure levels. He countered by citing that, in such cases, patients are typically given medication to stabilise their condition before surgery.
Meanwhile, Senior advocate C.V. Nagesh, representing Darshan, told the court that a date for the surgery was being set, and noted that the police had already moved the apex court for cancellation of interim bail.
The High Court will hear further arguments in the case on December 9.