"Ridiculous, meaningless": BJP on Cong protests over CBI searches at DK Shivakumar's premises
Bengaluru: The BJP described as "ridiculous and meaningless" protests by the Congress over CBI conducting searches at multiple premises on Monday in a corruption case related to party leader D K Shivakumar.
Karnataka BJP spokesperson, Captain Ganesh Karnik said CBI, ED & IT are institutions with functional autonomy to investigate and bring to justice financial & criminal fraudsters.
"They are always on their job. The present raid is in continuation of investigations started by ED in 2017," he said.
Stating that the BJP respects the functional autonomy granted to these institutions for probity, Captain Karnik said "the politically motivated protests (by Congress) are ridiculous & meaningless."
"The party (Congress) which was in power for such a long time both at Centre & State should know the functioning of these institutions better," Captain Karnik said.
The CBI said it is carrying out searches at 14 locations in Karnataka, Delhi, and Maharashtra in the case that pertains to amassing of disproportionate assets.
The CBI said it has registered a case against the then Minister of Karnataka Government (Shivakumar who is now President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee) and others on the allegations of acquisition of disproportionate assets.
"Searches are being conducted today at 14 locations including 9 in Karnataka, 4 in Delhi, one in Mumbai," a CBI statement said.
According to sources, these locations being searched include the properties of Shivakumar's brother and MP from Bengaluru Rural, D K Suresh.
Congress leaders have hit out at the ruling BJP governments at the State and the Centre following the searches, questioning their timing ahead of November 3 bypolls to Sira and R R Nagar Assembly segments.
Congress General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Affairs, Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "The insidious game of intimidation & machinations of Modi-Yeddyurappa duo being executed by a puppet CBI by raiding @DKShivakumar won't deter us. CBI should be unearthing the layers of corruption in Yeddyurappa Govt".
Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: "The latest CBI raid on @KPCCPresident@DKShivakumar's house is another attempt to derail our preparation for bypolls. I strongly condemn this."
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Efforts on to bring Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna back to India: Home Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said efforts are on to bring Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse against women, back to India.
He also asserted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case was functioning efficiently.
The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H D Deve Gowda, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.
The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.
Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27 and is still at large.
He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls in the first phase on April 26.
"Procedures are on, until we secure him, bring him back here and take action in accordance with law, they will continue. We will neither slow it nor stop it," Parameshwara told reporters on questions about the Interpol's Blue Corner Notice that was issued against Prajwal.
On BJP alleging that the government was "responsible" for Prajwal's "escape" from the country, the Minister said, "They will say it, they have to say such things. They cannot say the government is doing a good job. But we have a responsibility as a government. Such incidents cannot be taken lightly. We will do our job."
Accusing the Congress government of trying to tarnish the reputation of Deve Gowda's family instead of ensuring justice to victims of alleged sex videos scandal case involving Prajwal, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy had recently alleged that every bit of information on the investigation is being sent to a Congress MLA of Mandya district, but not the Home Minister.
Reacting to this, Parameshwara said: "Kumaraswamy is also well aware, several things we cannot bring to the public domain, because the investigation is on. Who will brief the Mandya MLA? Making such allegations is easy. We all have responsibility and we are functioning with responsibility, and we are not under any compulsions."
"I want to tell him (Kumaraswamy) that SIT is working efficiently, and whatever they have to brief me or the Chief Minister, they will brief. Let there be no doubts about it," he said.
