D. K. Shivakumar

The high command will decide. As our leader (Shivakumar) said, the transfer of power is a secret deal among five to six party leaders, and those five to six people will decide, says Ramnagara MLA.

The Congress and its leader Shivakumar refuted the remarks attributed to him and accused the BJP of raising a ”fake issue” and indulging in disinformation to stall Parliament

"The situation (for cabinet expansion) has not come. There has been no discussion to fill up that one vacancy," he told reporters, effectively putting to rest speculation about potential changes in the state cabinet's composition.

Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar assures government's preparedness to tackle Bengaluru floods, advises citizens to take necessary precautions amidst incessant rains.

The IT department had accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate S K Sharma of indulging in transactions involving huge amounts of unaccounted-for money on a regular basis through 'hawala' channels with the help of three other accused.

"There is a cabinet meeting on June 1, the Chief Minister has the responsibility of the Finance department, he will discuss with officials and bring the relevant information to the cabinet. We will keep up our promise. We will have to do it systematically and preparations are on," Shivakumar said.

Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second term, along with state Congress president D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister, and eight legislators as Ministers on Saturday, exactly a week after the party swept the Assembly polls in Karnataka.

After the Congress made a spectacular comeback in Karnataka winning 135 of the 224 seats, the party is now faced with the challenge of picking the chief minister.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Shivakumar, argued there was neither any attachment of property in the case nor any proceeds of crime in terms of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Shivakumar had appeared before the ED last on September 19 in Delhi where he was questioned with regard to another money laundering case linked to alleged possession of disproportionate assets.

The prosecution complaint has been filed under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a Delhi court, they said.

The announcement comes after the BS Yediyurappa-led Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka temporarily suspended the Covid-19 vaccination for the age group of 18 to 44 years from May 14, due to shortage in supply.

Searches are underway by the CBI at 14 locations linked to state Congress president D K Shivakumar in connection with allegations of acquisition of disproportionate assets.

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.

The I-T Department had filed a complaint against Shivakumar and others after it conducted a search in August 2017 under the provisions of Income Tax Act as well as Indian Penal Code.

According to the family sources, the leader had sought exemption from appearing before the officials as he has to campaign for the byelections scheduled for December 5.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Shivakumar on September 3 in a money laundering case. He is lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody.

The ED told Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar that if released, Shivakumar may influence the persons who are in knowledge of his 'grave offence' of money laundering and are yet to be examined.

They said Aishwarya has been asked to depose before the investigating officer of the case here on September 12.

Senior BJP leader and state Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries Jagadish Shettar rejected the Congress charge, saying the institutions were doing their duty and if someone felt being victimised, he cannot help it.