The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to the Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who was lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a money laundering case. The court has however made it clear that he cannot leave the country.

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait granted relief to Shivakumar saying that he was not a flight risk. The judge also said that Shivakumar cannot tamper with evidence as documents are with investigating agencies and there is no material to show he has influenced witnesses.

The court directed that he be released on bail on furnishing a bond of Rs 25 lakh and two sureties of like amount. \

Shivakumar, an all purpose man of the Congress leadership was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 3 in  the money laundering case and was lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody. A seven time MLA,  he was booked along with an employee of Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi and a few others over charges of corruption and money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case was based on a charge sheet filed by the Income Tax Department against Shivakumar and others last year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and ”hawala” transactions worth crores or rupees.

The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate S K Sharma of indulging in transactions involving huge amounts of unaccounted money on a regular basis through ‘hawala’ channels with the help of three other accused.

–India Legal Bureau