ED searches on educational institutions linked to Parameshwara leads to political storm
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday launched searches at 16 locations in connection with the gold smuggling case allegedly involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao. Some of them are premises of educational institutions reportedly linked to Karnataka's Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
However, sources in the ED did not name any individuals. 'An educational Trust has diverted funds and made a payment of ₹40 lakh towards the credit card bill of Ranya Rao, allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual. No supporting vouchers or documentation were found to substantiate this payment,' an official said, refusing to name any individual.
'Targeted attack'
Meanwhile, the searches at the institutions linked to the Home Minister led to a political storm, with many Congress leaders alleging that it was targeted attack on a senior Dalit leader of the party.
'The ED raids on the educational institutions of Karnataka's Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, one of the tallest SC Leaders, is a frustrated reaction of BJP & Modi Govt to giving of ownership rights to 1 Lakh SC-ST families yesterday at Hospet. The constant assault on Constitution and leaders of SC-ST-OBC communities across India has become a habitual pattern. The revenge seeking against @DrParameshwara is part of this sinister design,' said AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, in a social media post. Similar reactions came from other senior leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Illegal foreign exchange
ED sources, meanwhile, speaking on the general nature of searches at 16 locations carried out on Wednesday, said that they included those of 'hawala' operators who 'facilitated illegal foreign exchange movement for gold procurement.'
'Several such persons have admitted to dealings with Ranya Rao,' said an official, adding that the buyers conceded that they bought gold allegedly from her and sold it to jewellers.
The locations related to 'accommodation entry operators', under suspicion for providing fake proofs of financial transactions and consultation incomes in Ranya Rao's accounts, were also covered. 'They have confessed to routing funds to Ranya Rao's accounts, without any genuine business transactions,' the official said.
It is alleged that one company had purportedly shown Ranya Rao as a supplier of construction labour and paid her 'a few crores of rupees'. She also allegedly indulged in money laundering through other companies.
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