ED may summon Karnataka home minister Parameshwara in Ranya Rao case
Ranya Rao
to its headquarters in Delhi and is likely to summon Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara for questioning for his alleged financial transactions with the accused.
Sources said the agency got a major breakthrough after searches across 16 locations over Wednesday and Thursday, which revealed the names of several high-profile businessmen and politicians engaged in money laundering through hawala dealers and entry operators (those managing shell companies).
The places raided included educational trusts belonging to Parameshwara. The trusts, which are tax-exempt, were found to have footed credit card bills of the actress and her other expenses to the tune of Rs 40 lakh: seemingly an illegality, considering that trust money is supposed to be strictly used for activities of the charitable organisation, and not for personal expenses of the trustees or their friends.
"An educational trust has diverted funds and made a payment of Rs 40 lakh towards the credit card bills of Ranya Rao, allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual," a source said, without naming the Karnataka minister. Parameshwara has said that he would cooperate with the probe.
ED has asked trust officials to produce "supporting vouchers or documentation" to substantiate payment of Rs 40 lakh, and disclose the purpose of such expenditure.
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The agency has also searched several hawala dealers found engaged in laundering unaccounted cash of several high-profile people from the state. These dealers were involved in illegal forex business without RBI approval.
Some other gold smuggling rackets have also been clubbed with the ongoing investigation.
"Several financial irregularities, including layering of proceeds of crime, have been identified," a senior official said. During questioning, hawala dealers "admitted" to dealings with Ranya and having provided accommodation entries to launder her proceeds of crime, and for some of her clients.
Ranya was arrested by Customs and DRI officials on March 3 and over 14 kg gold worth Rs 13 crore was seized.
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