Karnataka: Government halts CBI investigation against DK Shivakumar

A Cabinet meeting headed by  Chief Minister Siddaramiah decided to revoke the permission granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka  DK Shivakumar in a disproportionate assets case. “We took the decision since the sanction to investigate any Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) requires the speaker's permission and in case of a minister, it is the governor's approval that is necessary. However, even though Shivakumar was then an MLA, the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by BS Yediyurappa did not take permission from the speaker,” Siddaramaiaha said. 

The BJP state president Vijayendra expressed his opposition to this decision and foreshadowed a protest which the BJP would hold against this. Home Minister G Parameshwar however defended the cabinet decision stating that they have a say on procedural matters. “BS Yediyurappa had issued verbal instructions to the chief secretary to allow the CBI to investigate the case. Wasn't that politically motivated? What we have done is within the framework of law. We don't know what will happen in the future. We will submit to the court the decision taken by the cabinet within the framework of law. What the CBI or court will do next is left to them and the system, we cannot preempt it.We have not gone into the merits of the case yet. Whether he has disproportionate income or whether he has earned it, we have nothing to do with that,” he stated.