Citing maintainability issues, KHC dismisses pleas against DKS

The court has granted relief to approach SC

For the time being, it is a relief for DKS

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday dismissed a series of petitions challenging the state government’s decision to withdraw consent for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in a disproportionate assets (DA) case. The court’s ruling comes as a setback for the CBI and BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, who had filed the petitions contesting the state government’s move.

Also Read: ‘Sorry, dismissed’: Supreme Court upholds CBI case against DK Shivakumar

The controversy began when the ruling Congress government in Karnataka, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, withdrew consent in November 2023 for the CBI to investigate corruption allegations against Shivakumar, referring the case instead to the Lokayukta Police. In response, the CBI and Yatnal challenged the government’s decision in court.

Last week, Shivakumar appeared before the Lokayukta Police as part of the ongoing investigation into the DA case. The CBI had originally filed an FIR against him in September 2020, alleging that he had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2013 and 2018, a period during which he served as a minister in the Congress-led state government.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had also rejected a petition by Shivakumar challenging the CBI’s FIR, stating it could not interfere with the High Court’s October 2023 order that directed the CBI to complete its probe within three months. The High Court’s latest decision effectively upholds the state government’s authority to withdraw consent for CBI investigations within its jurisdiction.