Raids on Karnataka HM Parameshwara ‘linked’ to Ranya Rao’s credit card bill

Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday concluded the coordinated raids at educational institutions linked to Home Minister G Parameshwara in Tumakuru and Bengaluru.

Well-placed sources confirmed to DH that a team of investigators from the ED’s Delhi office launched the raids on Wednesday morning, which continued till Thursday afternoon.

Major searches were held at the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology and an office of one of the institutes, in Tumakuru, and the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences in T Begur, Nelamangala, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Home Minister Parameshwara is the chairperson of these institutions.

According to the central agency, when it was investigating the money trail connected to actor Ranya Rao's gold smuggling attempts, the sleuths found that "an educational trust diverted funds and made payments of Rs 40 lakh towards her credit card bills".

The payments were made "allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual", but the ED found no supporting vouchers or documentation to substantiate this payment, sources said. While the ED has yet to release an official statement, sources indicated that the educational trust was linked to the home minister and hence the searches at the premises in Tumakuru and Bengaluru.

A well-placed source revealed to DH that the ED sleuths were now trying to find out if the payments routed via the trust to clear Ranya’s credit card dues were used, either in full or part, by her to purchase the gold in Dubai and then smuggle it to India. It wasn't immediately clear if the ED would investigate Parameshwara or summon him for questioning. 

Ranya, 33, was arrested on March 3 after she flew into Bengaluru from Dubai. According to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, she was found carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore on her person.

On March 9, the DRI arrested Tarun Konduru Raju, 36, a Telugu actor who allegedly had close ties with Ranya and aided her in smuggling the gold. On March 26, the DRI made the third arrest of Sahil Sakariya Jain, 27, a jeweller from Ballari, who helped Ranya dispose of 49 kg of gold worth Rs 40.13 crore and helped in hawala transactions.

On Tuesday, Ranya and Raju were granted default bail by the Special Court for Economic Offences. However, they will continue to remain in judicial custody since they were also booked under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act, providing for their detention for nearly a year without bail. Ranya’s mother has challenged this in the high court.