ED carries out searches at 16 locations linked to Karnataka home minister G Parameshwar

BW Online Bureau May 22, 2025

These institutes are managed by the Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education, a deemed-to-be university where minister G Parameshwara holds the position of Chancellor

New Delhi, May 22

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids at 16 locations, including educational institutes linked to Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara and some alleged hawala and forex dealers in connection with the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case.

ED searched premises of Sri Siddhartha Medical College and Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology (SSIT) in Tumakuru, as well as the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences near T. Begur in Nelamangala.

These institutes are managed by the Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education, a deemed-to-be university where Parameshwara holds the position of Chancellor.

ED stated that the minister’s trust paid Rs. 40 lakh to Rao’s credit card. The trust allegedly diverted funds and made a payment of Rs. 40 lakh towards the credit card bill of Ranya Rao, allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual. The probe showed that no supporting vouchers or documentation were found to substantiate this payment.

Rao, the step daughter of former director general of police Murlidhar Rao, was arrested from Bengaluru international airport on March 3 with 14.2 kilograms of gold bars estimated to cost Rs. 12.56 crore. On May 20, a special court granted Rao default bail after the Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated 60-day period. She will, however, remain in prison under other charges.

ED, DRI and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) re probing a larger conspiracy into the case, along with her links to politicians.