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 Karnataka government told the High Court on Tuesday that the Governor does not have the authority to sanction the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the State, argued before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind that the Governor’s decision to grant prosecution sanction raises a significant constitutional issue. "The Governor cannot approve the prosecution of a Chief Minister. If this precedent is set, it could lead to chaos," Sibal said.

The Bench issued notice on Siddaramaiah's appeal challenging a single-judge's decision to uphold the Governor’s sanction. The matter has been posted for further hearing on 25th January 2025.

The case pertains to allegations of corruption involving the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The Governor, Thawar Chand Gehlot, granted sanction on 26th July to prosecute Siddaramaiah based on complaints by activists TJ Abraham, Snehamai Krishna, and Pradeep Kumar SP. The complaints alleged that MUDA granted inflated compensation for 14 parcels of land to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi, in exchange for the development of three acres of land gifted to her by her brother, Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Devaraju, the original owner of the land, expressed distress over being dragged into the case. Represented by Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, Devaraju urged the court to protect him, arguing that he had no connection to the political controversy.

The Bench assured him, stating, "You are like the lotus in murky water. We'll treat you separately." However, it declined to stay the criminal proceedings against him.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Siddaramaiah, contended that the Governor’s decision violated s.17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which mandates prior police inquiry before granting prosecution sanction. Singhvi also argued that the Governor must act on the advice of the council of ministers, barring cases of manifest illegality.

Senior Advocates KG Raghavan and Maninder Singh, representing the complainants, supported the Governor's decision. Meanwhile, the court declined to comment on a plea seeking a CBI probe into the scam, which is scheduled for a hearing on 10th December.