Court Extends DK Shivakumar's Judicial Custody Till Oct 25, Asks Authorities To Provide Chair, TV In Jail

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended till October 25 the judicial custody of Congress leader DK Shivakumar, arrested in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar sent Shivakumar to further judicial custody on the ED's plea after the Shivakumar did not oppose it.

During the hearing, DK Shivakumar's lawyer complained that jail authorities were not allowing the Congress leader to even sit on a chair in jail and due to that he is suffering from back problems. His counsel also alleged that Shivakumar facing unfair treatment from jail authorities in Tihar.

The court then directed Tihar Jail authorities to provide a chair and television to DK Shivakumar in jail, as per the jail manual.

Earlier, ED's special public prosecutors Amit Mahajan, Nitesh Rana and N K Matta sought extension of his judicial custody, saying he could not be let free. The court had on September 25 declined to grant Shivakumar bail noting that he was an influential person and if released, may influence the witnesses or tamper with documents.

The ED had in September last year registered the money laundering case against Shivakumar, Haumanthaiah, an employee at the Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, and others, the agency's advocate A R Aditya said.

The case was based on a charge sheet (prosecution complaint) filed by the Income Tax Department against them last year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and 'hawala' transactions worth crores.

The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate S K Sharma of transporting huge amount of unaccounted cash on a regular basis through 'hawala' channels with the help of three other accused.

(With PTI Inputs)