FILE: DK Shivakumar. TOI

BENGALURU: In a big setback for former minister DK Shivakumar and four others, the Karnataka high court has dismissed their petitions challenging the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to a case registered under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Rejecting the petitions, Justice Aravind Kumar has noted that the case involves illegal money and the same is punishable if it is invested in the economy.

The judge also observed that it is for the authority to decide whether offence is made out or not under the PMLA.

It may be recalled that ED, Delhi, had issued summons against them about eight months ago on charges of money laundering. This was after huge amount of cash was found in the flat owned by Shivakumar during the raids conducted by I-T department.

The four other accused in the case are businessman Sunil Sharma and Sachin Narayan, Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah and Rajendra, who were working at Karnataka Bhavan, New Delhi.

