Delhi HC allows Karnataka Congress leader out on bail, to go abroad

New Delhi, March 30 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted permission to Karnataka Congress Leader D K Shivakumar, who was on bail in a Money Laundering case, to travel to Dubai for an event, in which he is the special guest. The Income Tax Department had filed a charge sheet against Shivakumar, MLA from Karnataka and others, on the allegations of tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores of rupees. This was followed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) registering a case against Shivakumar and Haumanthaiah, an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, in connection with offences under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The High Court had granted bail to Shivakumar in October, 2019, by imposing certain conditions that he would not leave the country without the permission of the court concerned and not try to influence the witnesses of the Court and co-operate with the Investigating Officer. The Counsel for Shivakumar contended before the Court that the presence of Kumar was required in Dubai for an event, in which he was the special guest. Justice Asha Menon, after hearing the submission on behalf of Kumar, allowed him to go abroad for a week between March 31 and April 6, with the condition that Kumar shall intimate the Investigating officer on his return. XC RJ