Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 9: The state government, which somehow has succeeded in wriggling out of the precarious situation arising out of the PLD Bank election at Belagavi with the timely intervention of top Congress leaders, is likely to face another litmus test shortly, as per information.

It is said that the enforcement directorate (ED) is preparing to file first information report against the high profile energy minister of the state, D K Shivakumar. The ED officials, sources say, may take Shivakumar into custody on Monday for questioning. The case is said to be relating to recovery of four crore rupees in cash in a flat belonging to the minister in New Delhi. If the charges are proved and the court holds him guilty, the offence is punishable with imprisonment up to a period of seven years.

The coalition government is facing one challenge after the other since the time it was formed, either because of internal bickering within the coalition partners or friction between the leaders of Congress and JD(S) parties. At the same time, Shivakumar's brother and Congress MP, D K Suresh, said that former chief minister, B S Yeddyurappa, had written to the income tax department to act against Shivakumar.

Suresh said that BJP is trying to wrest power through devious means and there are efforts to arrest the concerned. He accused state and central leaders of BJP of being behind these efforts. He said he had sent reply to the allegations made by Central Bureau of Investigation ten days back. He also added that he has sought appointment with the Prime Minister to bring to his notice about misuse of enforcement directorate by certain people for their selfish motives.

Dismissing the allegations against him, Yeddyurappa said that he had not written to income tax department on January 16, 2017 as alleged, seeking action against the minister. He said that out of enmity and malicious intentions, a fake letter purported to be written by him has been released by the concerned. He asserted that he had not written any letter to income tax department as alleged.

Chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, said that BJP has been trying to unseat the state government run by the alliance of JD(S) and Congress. He predicted that such efforts will go in vain, and that the people are able to understand what kind of politics is being played.

Shivakumar said that he has not received any information from income tax department officials about this case and that a case has been registered in the court. He said he holds judiciary in high esteem, and expressed his preparedness to face BJP leaders if they want to play politics by using money and power.

State BJP too said that the letter which D K Suresh released in support of his allegations is fake. It wondered why would Yeddyurappa complain against Shivakumar and felt that this is an effort by the MP to create confusion in the minds of the people. It pointed out that the letterhead released by Suresh contains Yeddyurappa's Bengaluru address and Shivamogga telephone number. Even the e-mail given therein is wrong with the first letter given in capital letters. In the genuine letterheads of Yeddyurappa, the e-mail id begins in small letters, bsy, and that Yeddyurappa always signs his letters on the right hand side, it stated, in an effort to clear Yeddyurappa's name from this controversy.