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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Bhatkal: In a development that has raised concerns in the Bhatkal area, the suspicious death of 35-year-old civil engineer Fahad Motiya occurred around 9:30 PM on Saturday. Fahad, son of Farooq Motiya, has left behind several unanswered questions regarding the circumstances of his death.

Fahad reportedly left his aunt’s residence near Abu Ubaida Mosque on Goodluck Road around 9 PM on his bike. Shortly after, his body was discovered a short distance away. His bike was found parked approximately 30 steps from the location in a downhill area near Hurulisal.

Eyewitnesses stated that some passers-by noticed a person lying on the ground in the dark and moved him under a nearby streetlight to check on him, only to find that Fahad was unresponsive. Local leaders who arrived at the scene immediately rushed him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

As news of Fahad’s death spread, large crowds gathered at the hospital. While some suspected that he might have suffered a cardiac arrest, others pointed to faint marks visible on his neck, which medical professionals reportedly identified as concerning.

Family members and close associates revealed that Fahad had been under stress due to financial disputes and was allegedly attacked 15 days ago. They suspect that he may have been strangled or suffocated with a cloth by the perpetrators.

The Bhatkal Rural Police have visited the scene and gathered evidence, examining the distance between the bike and the body, among other details. Bhatkal DySP Mahesh assured a thorough investigation into the threats and assaults Fahad had faced previously.

Fahad’s body has been sent to Manipal for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death. City Police Station PSI Naveen, Rural PSI Chandan Gopal, forensic expert Ramesh, and other officials inspected the scene and are continuing the investigation.