Latest news with #AishwaryaGowda
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
DK Suresh appears before ED officials
BENGALURU: DK Suresh, former MP and brother of Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, appeared before the ED on Tuesday in connection with Aishwarya Gowda 'cheating' case. She has been accused of cheating a gold trader of Rs 9.82 crore. This was Suresh's second appearance before the ED in a fortnight. 'ED officials sought information related to some properties, which I have provided. I have no connection, whatsoever, with Aishwarya Gowda. I do not understand how I am being linked to the case. I will extend my full cooperation to the probe,' Suresh told reporters. Earlier, he appeared before ED officials on June 23. On June 17, ED officials visited Suresh's residence and served him summons to appear for questioning on June 19. He appeared before them on June 23 and sought time to furnish some documents. ED officials arrested Aishwarya in April after raids. They also raided a few others, including a Congress MLA.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Decode Politics: Why Cong, BJP are maintaining silence over Aishwarya Gowda ‘fraud' case
The arrest of 33-year-old 'businesswoman' Aishwarya Gowda by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in April for allegedly duping several rich people in Bengaluru while claiming to be the sister of former Congress MP D K Suresh and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has made waves in the political circles in the state. On Monday, Suresh appeared before the ED in connection with the case. 'The agency (ED) summoned me as many victims (duped by Aishwarya Gowda) had taken my name. They asked me a few questions, which I answered. I am cooperating with the investigators, who have asked me to appear again on July 8,' he said. The ED said that properties worth Rs 3.98 crore linked to Aishwarya have been attached. 'The attached properties include immovable properties in the form of flats, constructed building and land valued to be Rs 2.01 crore and movable properties in the form of cash and vehicle worth Rs 1.97 crore,' the agency said in a statement. Aishwarya Gowda, a resident of Malavalli of Mandya district, has allegedly duped many people in her home district under the guise of a chit fund scheme before targeting victims in Bengaluru. Sources said Aishwarya is married to Harish K N and claims to have connections with many top politicians of the state, including those from the ruling Congress as well as the Opposition BJP and JD(S). 'People believed her as she invited politicians to her events,' a source said. Her name first surfaced in the case after Vanitha Aithal, a jewellery store owner, lodged a complaint with the police alleging Gowda had duped her after promising high returns on gold worth Rs 8 crore. After the police registered an FIR, two more doctors and a businessman came out to accuse Aishwarya of cheating them in a similar way. The complainants also alleged that she posed as the sibling of Suresh and Shivakumar to 'get things done quickly'. Aishwarya currently has four cases pending against her in Bengaluru. She has also been accused of accessing call record details of some of her victims by using her 'contacts' in the police. The Bengaluru City police, which initially probed the cheating case against Aishwarya, found a money laundering angle and took her into custody. During her questioning, the police found that she had allegedly gifted a luxury car to Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni. The case was then taken over by the ED, which found that Kulkarni gave Aishwarya a loan of Rs 24 crore, which she failed to return. She later allegedly negotiated a deal for influencing a witness in a murder case in which the MLA is accused. The probe also found her to be involved in a Rs 60 crore transaction with Congress leader Thibbegowda. Kulkarni has denied all allegations and claimed that Aishwarya was just an 'acquaintance'. Following her arrest on April 24 by the ED, the agency raided 14 locations linked to Kulkarni and seized Rs 2.25 crore in cash. 'During the said search operations, various incriminating documents related to money laundering activities through movable/immovable properties and digital devices have been found and seized. The accused has neither returned the money nor given the promised return and also threatened the investors of dire consequences in case of further pursuance of the matter by claiming her proximity to various high profile politicians,' the ED stated in a press release on April 26. Aishwarya has currently been in the ED's custody. The ED on Tuesday reportedly said it has filed a charge sheet against 18 persons including Aishwarya. The prosecution complaint was filed on June 21 before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Bengaluru, the agency said. Though the names of the DK brothers and a Congress MLA have cropped up in connection with the case, the BJP has not raked up the row vigorously. A senior BJP leader said the issue is not likely to kick up a political storm as Aishwarya is known to have links cutting across party lines. 'She has invited leaders of other parties to her events too and reportedly used the names of some BJP leaders to execute her con. The Opposition is not keen on raising the issue,' a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity. The Congress, which has been witnessing a tussle between the camps led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, is yet to officially comment on the issue. Congress sources said, 'Since the DK brothers are allegedly involved in the case, the Siddaramaiah camp is upbeat and feels that it will help the CM cement his position further'. Terming the ED raids as 'politically motivated', a Congress leader said that the party has adopted a wait and watch approach. 'The BJP has used the agency as a weapon. Unless there is a proven link, parties do not react in such cases. The BJP, too, will not comment as there are photographs of Aishwarya Gowda with their leaders. It will also cause embarrassment to them. Also, there is nothing new in misusing leaders' names,' a Congress leader said.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
ED questions ex-Congress MP D K Suresh in Aishwarya Gowda case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Monday questioned Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's brother and former MP D K Suresh in a money laundering case against Aishwarya Gowda, who allegedly cheated several people on the pretext of gold business ventures posing as his sister. After appearing before ED officials, D K Suresh said he was summoned because many of Aishwarya Gowda's victims had named him in their statements before the agency, as 'the person had misused my name'. 'They (ED) asked me a few questions to which I have answered. I am supporting the investigation. They have asked me to appear again on July 8, which I will do. I also have mentioned the complaint that I had filed before the Bengaluru city police,' he added, referring to his police complaint accusing Aishwarya Gowda of using false family connections to facilitate fraudulent activities. The Central agency also said it attached properties worth Rs 3.98 crore belonging to Aishwarya Gowda and others in a financial fraud case. 'The attached properties include immovable properties in the form of flats, constructed building and land having value of Rs 2.01 crore and movable properties in the form of cash and vehicle worth Rs 1.97 crore,' ED said in a statement. ED initiated the money-laundering investigation based on multiple FIRs registered at various police stations against Aishwarya Gowda, her husband Harish K N, and others over the allegation that they entered into a criminal conspiracy to defraud and cheat several people by taking gold, cash, and funds from them after promising high returns. The accused have neither returned the money nor given the promised return. Gowda also allegedly threatened the investors with dire consequences if they pursued the matter further, by claiming proximity to various high-profile politicians. ED has searched various locations connected with Aishwarya Gowda and her accomplices, and seized incriminating documents related to money-laundering activities allegedly carried out using movable and immovable properties and other digital devices. Aishwarya Gowda, who is reportedly close to BJP, Congress and JD(S) politicians, is facing charges of cheating and money laundering as she allegedly cheated some rich people in Bengaluru by claiming to be Suresh's sister. The ED also raided Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni's home recently.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
ED questions D.K. Suresh in Aishwarya Gowda gold cheating case
Officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday questioned former MP, D.K. Suresh, in a money laundering case against city-based businesswoman Aishwarya Gowda, who had cheated several people on the pretext of gold business ventures posing as sister of Mr. Suresh. Aishwarya Gowda is alleged to have used the name of Mr. Suresh, who is the brother of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, to cheat several jewellers to the tune of ₹8 crore. She was arrested by the ED in April. Mr. Suresh was at the ED office for over six hours on Monday. After the questioning, Mr. Suresh said he had cooperated with the investigation, and officials had asked him to appear before the agency again on July 8. 'My name has been misused and I had already complained about it to the city police. Neither do I know her personally nor have had any financial transactions with her,' he said. The former MP further said that he wouldn't say ED was targeting him. 'Several people had given her money after she dropped my name. Many people who lost money have mentioned my name and hence ED had summoned me and I have cooperated with them,' he said. Properties attached Meanwhile, ED officials provisionally attached properties worth ₹3.98 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 related to Aishwarya Gowda and others for being found involved in the offence. The attached properties include immovable properties in the form of flats, constructed building, and land worth ₹2.01 crore and movable properties in the form of cash and vehicle, worth ₹1.97 crore, the ED said in a statement on Monday. The agency initiated the investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered at various police stations in the State against Aishwarya Gowda, her husband Harish K.N., and others under various sections of IPC and BNS. According to the complaint, Aishwarya Gowda, Harish and others entered into a criminal conspiracy to defraud and cheat several individuals by taking gold, cash and funds through bank accounts from them promising high rate of returns. However, the accused neither returned the money nor given the promised returns and also threatened the investors of dire consequences if they pursued the matter, by claiming her proximity to various high-profile politicians.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Raid all 136 Congress MLAs instead of…': Karnataka Minister over ED summons to DK Suresh
Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday lashed out at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over summons issued against former Congress leader DK Suresh and said that they should raid all 136 party MLAs in the state instead of "summoning a few". "We don't expect anything different from the ED. Instead of summoning a few MLAs, they might as well raid all 136 Congress MLAs. This is becoming a joke. We all know what the ED is about, so all of us have to be prepared whether they (ED or IT) come to our houses," Rao told ANI. READ | Bengaluru faces surge in auto fares after bike taxi ban, commuters demand solutions Labelling the ED's action as "vindictive politics," the Karnataka Minister alleged that the previous government also tried to "use" investigative agencies for political purposes. However, he added that such uses have become "open and blatant." "This is vindictive politics. Earlier also, every government tried to use some agency for political purposes, but now it has become open and blatant--there's no faith left," Rao said. READ | Mohandas Pai urges DK Shivakumar to open Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha gates to public after viral cycling photos Earlier in the day, ED summoned former Congress MP DK Suresh for questioning in connection with an alleged fraud case involving Aishwarya Gowda. Gowda, who claimed to be Suresh's sister, was arrested by the ED on April 24 for her alleged involvement in a money laundering case. The ED officials had initially asked Suresh to appear at their office on Thursday, June 19, at 11 AM, but Suresh has requested to defer his appearance to June 23. Earlier, the probe agency stated that its officials had conducted searches at 14 locations related to the accused woman, Aishwarya Gowda and her accomplices and seized various incriminating materials valued at approximately ₹2.25 crore. READ | Yoga Sangam: 3,000 to gather at Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha for International Yoga Day In a post on X dated April 26, the probe agency posted, "ED Bengaluru has arrested Ms Aishwarya Gowda, under PMLA, 2002, on April 24, for being found involved in the offence of money laundering. After the arrest, she was produced before the Special Court (PMLA), and the Court was pleased to grant ED custody of the accused for 14 days." The ED further mentioned that the searches, carried out on April 24 and 25 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, led to the seizure of incriminating documents, digital devices, and cash. "ED also conducted search operations at 14 locations related to Aishwarya Gowda and her accomplices on April 24 and 25, 2025, under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002. During the search operations, various incriminating documents, digital devices, and cash to the tune of approximately ₹2.25 crore have been found and seized," the post further read. According to reports, the ED arrested Aishwarya Gowda for allegedly engaging in money laundering through multiple cases of swindling wealthy individuals in Karnataka by exploiting connections to top political leaders in the state. Gowda allegedly posed as the sister of Karnataka Congress leader DK Suresh and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to gain access to wealthy doctors and businessmen. Last year, the Bengaluru police booked her in several cases of cheating.
