Sriramulu apologises to DKShi over his remarks

Bengaluru: A day after Congress leader DK Shivakumar was seen visibly emotional and blamed BJP leaders for playing dirty politics, Minister Sriramulu on Tuesday apologises to former minister over his remarks.

Speaking on the issue Sriramulu said that his comment on DK Shivakumar was political in nature and not personal.

Sriramulu and Deputy Chief Minister Govinda Karagol on Monday speaking about Shivakumar said that the one who has committed a mistake should pay for it.

Shivakumar, who had appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money laundering case for the third time on Monday, September 2 had turned emotional.

ED has reportedly rejected the request of former minister to offer prayers for his late father during the Ganesha Chaturthi festival.

Addressing presspersons on Monday Shivakumar said, “I am cooperating with the probe although I haven’t taken a single rupee or committed a crime. Still, today is an auspicious day. My father gave me life, and I wanted to pay my respects to him. But neither the BJP nor the Enforcement Directorate is allowing me to do this. I hope their souls find peace.”

On Friday, the investigating officer of the case had grilled Shivakumar for over 4 hours and recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED had asked him to appear for questioning after the Karnataka High Court dismissed his plea challenging earlier summons.

Karnataka Congress on Friday had defended Shivakumar and accused BJP lead central government of “misusing” investigating agencies “to take revenge” against him.

Shivakumar and Congress have indicated that his “instrumental role” in ensuring safe stay of Gujarat Congress MLAs in a Karnataka resort during the Rajya Sabha polls in 2017, amid allegations that the BJP was trying to poach them, was the reason for the I-T searches and subsequent ED action against him.

The ED had in September last year registered the money laundering case against Shivakumar, Haumanthaiah, an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, and others.

It was based on a charge sheet (prosecution complaint) filed by the Income-Tax Department against Shivakumar last year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores.

The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his associate S K Sharma of transporting huge amount of unaccounted cash on a regular basis through ‘hawala’ channels with help of three other accused.