CBI moves Karnataka High Court to contest cabinet's decision

Cabinet had withdrawn consent for CBI investigation

Hearing the case today, single judge bench referred it to Chief Justice

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that moved Karnataka High Court to contest the Karnataka government’s action to transfer the disproportionate assets case involving Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar away from the CBI came up for hearing today.

After elaborate hearing today (January 5), single judge bench referred the case to the Chief Justice.

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had also filed a case against the state cabinet’s decision to withdraw approval to CBI to investigate case against DK Shivakumar.

Earlier, Shivakumar, responding to the CBI’s court challenge, asserted that the move was a deliberate attempt to harass him. He pointed out that despite the government’s withdrawal and referral of the matter to the Lokayukta, notices were issued to individuals associated with him.

Shivakumar alleged political motivation, claiming that no action had been taken against leaders of the BJP.

In the preceding year, the Karnataka cabinet had made a move to retract its consent for a CBI investigation into DK Shivakumar’s disproportionate assets case, labeling the decision as illegal.

The cabinet contended that the prior consent given by the BJP government for the CBI’s inquiry into Shivakumar did not align with the law, prompting them to withdraw the sanction.

Opposition parties in the state, including the BJP and JDS, strongly opposed the decision, accusing the government of acting against the law and making an “immoral” choice to shield Shivakumar.