(L-R) Ranya Rao and G Parameshwara
Credit: DH Photos
Bengaluru: In a significant breakthrough, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) allegedly found a link of Rs 40 lakh transaction made between gold smuggling suspect Ranya Rao and an education trust linked to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.
According to well-placed sources in the agency's Delhi office, the probe has found that funds were diverted from an educational trust for making a payment of Rs 40 lakh towards Ranya's credit card bills.
"This payment was allegedly made at the behest of an influential individual," the sources said. "However, no supporting vouchers or documents were found to substantiate this transaction."
On Wednesday, based on the probe so far, the ED launched simultaneous raids at Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology and an institute's office in Tumakuru.
Sri Siddhartha Institute Of Medical Sciences in T Begur Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru, was also searched. Home Minister Parameshwara is the chairperson of these institutions.
ED sources revealed that they found several hawala operators who dealt with Ranya and buyers who admitted to buying smuggled gold from her and further selling it to jewellers. The investigation also revealed that one of the companies identified by them showed Ranya as the supplier of construction labour and paid her a few crores of rupees.
Sources said that the probe also unearthed "persons and entities doing illegal forex business, without RBI approval, have been unearthed and several pieces of evidence found towards the same."
Ranya, 33, was arrested on March 3 after she flew into Bengaluru from Dubai. According to DRI, she was found carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore on her person.
Simultaneous probes were also launched by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).