Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka cabinet minister D.K. Shivakumar arrived in Bengaluru on Saturday to a rousing welcome, fifty days after he was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges.

Hundreds of his supporters lined the streets and the party office to welcome the leader, who they believe is a target of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s witch hunt.

"If I have done anything wrong or not obeyed the law, let god and the law punish me," Shivakumar said at a press conference in the party office.

Sporting a beard, not appearing as belligerent as before his jail term and sometimes choking on his words, Shivakumar appeared to bask in the affection of hundreds of supporters who turned up at the airport to receive him after 50 days. It took the leader over four hours to cross the 35 kms distance from the airport to state Congress office as supporters had gathered near the toll and enroute, forcing the convoy of hundreds of bikes and cars, to stop every few kilometers. The convoy and its frequent stops causing massive pile up of traffic on the busy airport road.

Former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) H.D. Kumaraswamy met Shivakumar at the airport. Congress leader Siddaramaiah was conspicuous by his absence.

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