As background, on 25 September 2019, the then BJP government in Karnataka granted the CBI permission to register a First Information Report against Shivakumar in a case involving allegations of corruption and holding disproportionate assets.

Shivakumar later filed a petition before a single-judge bench of the High Court challenging it. On 4 April 2023, the plea was dismissed by the single judge, following which Shivakumar filed an appeal before a Division Bench of the High Court.

Meanwhile, the Congress government came to power in the state in May 2023, and on November 28 that year, withdrew its consent to the CBI for the probe. At this time, Shivakumar was also appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.

This withdrawal of consent was then challenged by the CBI as well as Yatnal before the Karnataka High Court. They also challenged the state’s decision in December 2023 to refer the allegations against Shivakumar to the Karnataka Lokayukta for investigation.

The Karnataka High Court dismissed these petitions on August 29, leading to appeals by Yatnal and the CBI before the Supreme Court.