DK Shivakumar Must Be Hospitalised, His Health Condition 'Very Serious': His Lawyer Tells Court

Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who is in Enforcement Directorate’s custody, must be hospitalised as his health condition is “very serious”, his lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi told Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought extension of his custodial interrogation by 5 more days.

Shivakumar was admitted to hospital on Thursday night on complaints of high blood pressure and uneasiness. Giving a detailed medical report of Shivakumar's emergency hospitalisation, Singhvi said, "Very high BP can induce a stroke. Yesterday, he was kept in the hospital. He went to answer questions today because they have been saying he's non-cooperative,"

Singhvi told the court that ever since his arrest, the agency has been interrogating him for 10 hours every day despite his fragile health condition. "He was arrested on September 3. Since then he had been interrogated for 10 hours every day. he has been questioned for over 100 hours despite his frail health," Singhvi told the court, adding that even the dastardliest criminal is also entitled to health protection.

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Shivakumar, arrested on September 3 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case, was produced before special court on the expiry of his 9-day custodial interrogation. Appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, ASG KM Natraj told the court that the agency has collected voluminous documents, which Shivakumar needs to be confronted with.

The probe agency also said that the former Karnataka minister was holding information which is in his knowledge. On this the court asked: “Do you think he will give answer in the 5 days? If he has not answered, will he answer now?”

Shivakumar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case that surfaced following an I-T raid in 2017. The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate SK Sharma of transporting huge amount of unaccounted cash on a regular basis through ‘hawala’ channels with the help of three other accused.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The I-T department has accused Shivakumar laundering money on a regular basis.
• Shivakumar was arrested by the agency on Spetember 3 and sent to a 9-day custody.
• The agency has also served a notice to DK Shivakumar's daughter in the case.