Bengaluru: In a significant development, the Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has opted to retract the previously granted permission for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the disproportionate assets case involving Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The decision was reached during a cabinet meeting held on Thursday.
H.K. Patil, the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs addressed the media, explaining that the cabinet has approved the withdrawal of permission for a CBI probe against Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar. Patil highlighted procedural irregularities, stating that the former Chief Minister had issued oral orders for a CBI investigation without obtaining the necessary consent from the Speaker, as required by legal procedures.
“The previous Chief Minister had given oral orders for a CBI investigation against Shivakumar. According to legal procedure, they should have obtained consent from the Speaker. Without obtaining the Speaker’s consent, the former CM had orally ordered a CBI probe. Considering the opinions of the former and present Advocate Generals (AGs), this decision has been made. The earlier decision to hand over the case to the CBI probe was deemed unlawful as consent from the Speaker was not obtained,” Patil explained.
He further noted that the former AG had opined against a CBI probe, and the current AG, Shashikiran Shetty, shared a similar perspective. The Congress government emphasized that, to date, 577 cases of disproportionate assets have been registered in the state, and none have been referred to the CBI. Local police have been conducting investigations in these cases.
In response to the cabinet’s decision, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka expressed concern, stating that the move was against the law, especially since the case is still pending in court. He argued that withdrawing permission for a CBI probe before the court’s judgment is incorrect, and it sets an undesirable precedent when governments change.
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