Bangalore: Former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has slammed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for ‘refusing’ to allow a plea by senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar for exempting him from appearance before it Monday, in view of ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ festival.
HD Kumaraswamy termed Sunday as ‘vindictive attitude’ the ED’s action in summoning Shivakumar to appear before it on a festival day.
DK Shivakumar, a former Karnataka Minister, had appeared Saturday before the ED in New Delhi for the second straight day in the money laundering case filed against him and others. According to him, the ED has asked him to appear again Monday.
“Gowri Ganesha is an important festival for Hindus. Mr@DKShivakumar had asked for a day to observe the festival. However, ED officials denied him even this. If this is not vindictive attitude, then what is? HD Kumaraswamy tweeted. Shivakumar was a Minister in Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition government.
Shivakumar had said Saturday that the ED issued summons seeking his appearance again Monday, rejecting his request for relaxation as it was a festival day.
“We requested stating that I have to offer my respect to elders of the family on the day of the festival. They said no and have issued me summons to appear at 11.00 am (Monday). I have happily accepted it,” Shivakumar told reporters Saturday in New Delhi.
The investigating officer of the case had grilled Shivakumar for over four hours and recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED had asked him to appear for questioning after the Karnataka High Court dismissed his plea challenging earlier summons.
PTI