Karnataka: Congress Government Reverses CBI Sanction Against Dy CM D K Shivakumar In Disproportionate Assets Case

In a recent development, the Karnataka Cabinet has taken the decision to revoke the sanction granted to the CBI by the previous BJP government, to probe a disproportionate assets case against Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar.

This move comes just over a month after the Karnataka High Court, on 19 October, declined to quash the investigations against Shivakumar and directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete its inquiry within three months.

The investigation into alleged illegal wealth accumulation, amounting to Rs 74 crore during Shivakumar's tenure as a minister in the Congress government from 2013 to 2018, began in 2020.

The decision to withdraw the CBI sanction, granted in September 2019 during the tenure of then chief minister B S Yediyurappa, was prompted by a cabinet declaration that the sanction was "not in accordance with law."

The cabinet, after reviewing opinions from the former and current advocate generals, highlighted the absence of the speaker's clearance, a necessary step according to the law, for such sanctions,

As reported by Indian Express, state Law Minister H K Patil stated, "A unilateral decision was taken by the former CM to accord the sanction. There was a requirement to obtain the permission of the Speaker of the legislature but this was not done, and the CBI had been accorded sanction for investigation."

The Law Minister added that an administrative order for the withdrawal of the sanction would be issued shortly.

The Karnataka High Court is set to hear Shivakumar's appeal against the 20 April decision of a single-judge bench, on 29 November.

Leader of the Opposition (BJP) in Karnataka, R Ashok, labeled the cabinet's decision as a "contempt of court."