Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices RF Nariman and S Ravindra Bhathas dismissed a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging the Delhi High Court order granting bail to Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar in money-laundering case.

The Supreme Court Bench also pulled up the Enforcement Directorate for copy-pasting arguments from Chidambaram’s case without editing. 

“The petition seems to be cut, copy and paste from the petition against P Chidambaram. Shivakumar is referred to as the former Home Minister. This is not the way to treat a citizen”, said Justice Nariman

The Directorate of Enforcement is a law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India. It is part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government Of India.

The SC also issued a notice in the petition filed by Shivakumar seeking quashing of charges against him by the Income Tax department.

The Delhi High Court had on October 23 granted bail to Shivakumar. The ED had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court decision granting bail to DK Shivakumar saying the Congress leader could tamper with the evidence in the case.

The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate SK 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.

Shivakumar, a seven-time INC MLA in Karnataka, was booked along with Haumanthaiah an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi and others for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).