Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 15: State energy minister, D K Shivakumar, who had been subjected to income tax (IT) raid last year, now encounters another legal hurdle. The court of economic offenses here has served the minister non-bailable summons for personal presence before it on March 22.

The IT raid had happened when Shivakumar was busy extending protection to over 40 legislators from Gujarat who had stayed at Eagleton Resort on August 2, 2017. During the raid, Shivakumar, who was in the resort, had torn a paper containing valuable information. It is alleged that in that torn paper it was written that "I have to get Rs 18 crore." The IT officials found this information by joining the pieces of the torn paper. Subsequently, they had approached the court of economic offense accusing Shivakumar of destroying evidence.

The court which conducted the hearing, issued the notice, on the allegation of destruction of evidence. Judge of the court, Mohan Shanthappa Alva, it is learnt, issued summons seeking the personal presence of the minister on March 22. It is also said that as a non-bailable warrant has been issued, the minister can possibly face arrest. It is learnt that the minister is preparing to secure bail in the case.

The court has directed the CBI police to register two FIRs against the minister under IPC section 201, 204 for the destruction of evidence and IT act 276 C1 for intentional fraud of income tax. Under orders of the chief director (investigations) of income tax, R Ravichandran, a team of IT officials have taken up the prosecution of Shivakumar.