Karnataka HC extends stay on CBI inquiry against DK Shivakumar in DA case, pending query

The Karnataka High Court extended the stay on the CBI investigation against state Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the disproportionate assets case.

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday extended the stay on the CBI investigation against state Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the disproportionate assets case, pending a query a single-judge has placed before the Chief Justice. Shivakumar has challenged the FIR against him in the case.

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar (File)

The petition came up before the single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna today. The petition has been part-heard by Justice K Natarajan before the summer vacation. Justice M Nagaprasanna has therefore directed the Registrar to place the file before the Chief Justice and seek his opinion whether he can continue hearing the same petition.

The stay granted earlier was continued and the hearing adjourned. DK Shivakumar had filed two petitions in the HC -- one against the sanction granted on September 25, 2019 by the State Government to the CBI to prosecute him and another challenging the FIR filed against him by the central agency on October 3, 2020.

The high court has dismissed the petition challenging the grant of sanction earlier. The Income Tax Department had conducted a search and seizure operation in the offices and residence of Shivakumar in 2017. Based on it, the Enforcement Directorate started its own probe against Shivakumar. Subsequently, the CBI sought sanction from the state government to register an FIR against him.