K’taka govt’s move to shield Shivakumar from CBI probe sparks outrage

Bengaluru: The opposition BJP and JD(S) have slammed the Karnataka cabinet’s move to withdraw consent for a CBI investigation against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in a disproportionate assets case, terming the decision illegal.

They accused the government of going against the law and taking an “immoral” decision aimed at protecting Shivakumar. They indicated the issue would be raised, both inside and outside the legislative assembly, to attack the Siddaramaiah administration.

The cabinet on Thursday deemed the previous BJP government’s move to give consent to the CBI to investigate the DA case against Shivakumar as not being in accordance with law, and decided to withdraw the sanction. “Ultimately, everyone will have to abide by what the court decides... In a way this is a decision that is against law... Let’s wait and see what the court decides next,” veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa said.

Asked whether the government was trying to protect Shivakumar, the former CM said: “The law will take its course.” Yediyurappa’s son and state BJP President B Y Vijayendra said the cabinet decision is “totally illegal and anti-constitutional”. “It is unfortunate that the cabinet has taken such a decision and the BJP strongly condemns it, and is deciding on an agitation against it,” he said. Stating that the decision is aimed at protecting Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress President, he asked the DCM, “Why are you fearing? Don’t you have faith in the law?”