Petition with ED accuses DKS of money laundering

A petition was filed on Thursday before the director, Enforcement Directorate, New Delhi, and joint director, Bengaluru by Guruprasad, a resident of Bidadi in Ramanagaram district, seeking investigation into alleged money laundering by Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and his associates.

The petitioner has named Sachin Narayan, businessman and owner, Ashok Hotel, Hassan; Dwarakanath, astrologer and hawala dealer, R T Nagar; Puttaswamy Gowda, electrical contractor, Asian Fabtech; G V Balaram, MD, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd and Sridhar, private secretary to Energy Minister, as the minister’s associates.

According to the petition, Shivakumar and Sachin Narayan gave Rs 2 lakh to each individual in the minister’s constituency in Kanakapura for the exchange of new notes after demonetisation. The minister exchanged currency notes worth Rs 2,000 crore with the help of Sachin Narayan, who is on bail in criminal offences.

It states that Shivakumar travelled over 60 times to Dubai and European countries for parking black money. He sent black money to Dubai through hawala channels.

The petitioner has sought investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Foreign Exchange Management Act.

He stated that he would soon furnish documents for his claims.