Karnataka has been rife with speculation for many days now that Karnataka water resource minister D K Shivkumar might be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate.  Taking his detractors head on , the Karnataka strong man came out  from hospital to defend himself on the charges made by BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. Smbit Patra who earlier in the day exposed DK’s aides confessional statements with regard to raids on his properties in New Delhi and Bengaluru. Taking a tough stance DK shivkumar said , ” I am not a Coward. I will face everything and not rune away. Let the BJP misuse IT , ED or any other agency”. DK owned up the fact that Rs 41 lakhs recovered from his house during the raids belonged to him and was part of his agricultural income and other sources . He claimed he had paid his taxes to the tune of Rs 30 crores to the income tax department.

Belying an otherwise  rattled and worried DK shivkumar look , DK took an aggressive posture threatning to expose those gunning for him,  reached his residence from the hospital where he was under going treatment, soon after BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra addressed a press conferance at Delhi with documents stating the confession statements made by his aides .who accepted the fact that they acted as money bags between DK Shivkumar and other sources .Sambit Patra alleged that, In his confessional statement, Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah DK shivkumars aides had said that “I agree with that I used to carry money to AICC with Mr. Jagdish chand and Mr. Rajendran”

DK shivkumar said he was targetted for playing a major role in Gujarat political crisis when he hosted Gujarat congress MLAs in a resort at Bengaluru to prevent them from cross voting in Rajya sabha elections dor Gujarat seats “Though I was hospitalised because of food poisoning, due to allegations by Sambit Patra I had to address press conference. I am happy that BJP has admitted its role in autonomous institutions. All these days they said they were not involved. All of you remember that when Gujarat MLAs were in one of the resorts in my district. The same day the biggest raids, 82 places were searched, which was a purely political attempt to defame me and my party”.

DK shivkumar told the crowded Press Conference that he had not recieved any notices from ED . It maybe recalled that the media has been speculating for many days about imminent arrest of the minister , who is in middle of the political storm which threatens to topple the H D Kumaraswamy government. But if he gets one h would co operate with ED for further inveatigations .He denied that he had paid any money to his party leaders .”I want to say that I have not made any mistake. Whatever irregularities they want to show. I have declared that Rs 41 lakh found in my house and I have told the source. I have not paid any money to my party leaders”.

DK  made allegations against state BJP party preaident BS Yeddyurappa and said his cases of corruption were known to people and made charges that BJP is trying to destabilise the state government.. The present political crisis which has seen several Congress dissidents  blame D K Shivakumar for partisanship saw D K defend himself. “I prevented MLAs from going to BJP and that’s why they have foisted this case. BJP wants to form a government here but I am a block. They wanted to do operation lotus and they feel if they put me in jail they’ll be able to form government by they are wrong”

While DK shivkumar returned to hospital after the  Press meet for further treatment . He added there is no question of him applying for an anticipatory bail . The Karnataka coalition government is on edge with power tussle within Congress and DK Shivkumar case is being seen with much interest in the political corridors as he holds key to the binding of Janata Dal and Congress govt to keep BJP away .