New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS): Taking strong objection to the raids at Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar's properties, the party on Monday said he was a victim of politics and the 'party stands by him'.

Addressing a press conference party spokesperson, Sushmita Dev said, "The CBI is a stooge of the Union government and nothing else."

"Why the raid is happening when there are bye-elections in the state," she asked, while insisting that Shivakumar was a victim of political witch-hunt and the CBI should not act as agent of the BJP.

Party General Secretary in-charge Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala said, "The insidious game of intimidation and the machinations of the Modi-Yeddyurappa duo being executed by a puppet CBI by raiding D.K. Shivakumar won't deter us".

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday carried out searches at 14 locations in Delhi, Mumbai and Karnataka in a disproportionate case and recovered Rs 50 lakh from different locations.

The action comes after the CBI registered a case against Shivakumar and others in a disproportionate case.

A CBI official said, "CBI has registered a case against Shivakumar and others on the allegations of acquisition of disproportionate assets."

The official said that searches were being conducted at 14 locations, including nine in Karnataka, four in Delhi and one in Mumbai.

According to CBI sources, till now Rs 50 lakh has been recovered from various locations.

Shivakumar is also being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering probe.

He was also arrested last year by the ED.