Daijiworld Media Network - Ramanagara (SP)

Ramanagara, Feb 12: As per the directions of the high court, officials of Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Tuesday February 11, questioned Gowramma, mother of former minister, D K Shivakumar, at her residence at Kodihalli in Kanakapura taluk of the district.

The case refers to alleged money laundering and amassing wealth beyond the known sources of income registered against Shivakumar. The high court had asked the enforcement directorate on December 18, 2019, to question Gowramma, who is old, at her residence instead of summoning her to the office.

The questioning session was to begin at 11 am as per arrangement. But a team of officials who arrived in two cars at around 1 pm on Tuesday, completed the questioning session at 7.30 pm. As Gowramma does not know English, an official who knows Kannada was in the team. After the interrogation was completed, all the matter was translated into Kannada, read out to Gowramma, after which her signature was obtained. This took lot of time, and it is said that the officials were there till 9.30 pm.

It is said that the officials ensured that D K Shivakumar and his brother and MP, D K Suresh did not move closer to the room in the first floor of the house where Gowramma was questioned. Shivakumar, D K Suresh, Shivakumar's wife, Usha Shivakumar and daughter, Aishwarya, had arrived at Kodihalli on Monday itself. They are believed to have tutored Gowramma about how to face the questioning session. Still, the brothers were reportedly jittery about what their mother might say in the presence of officials.

During the questioning, over 150 police personnel stood guard to Shivakumar's residence. No one including political leaders and local leaders were allowed to go near the house.