The minister refused to comment on the ED's allegation that ₹40 lakh from the institutions was used to clear the credit card dues of actor Ranya Rao, an accused in a gold smuggling case.
Published May 22, 2025 | 3:59 PM ⚊ Updated May 22, 2025 | 3:59 PM
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.
Synopsis: A day after the Enforcement Directorate searched educational institutions run by him, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar said he would cooperate with the probe, and asserted trust in the law of the land. He did not comment on the allegation of extending financial aid to gold-smuggling-accused Ranya Rao.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar on Thursday, 22 May, affirmed his trust in the law of the land and said he will cooperate with the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The minister made the statement a day after ED officials carried out simultaneous searches in educational institutions linked to the politician.
“Yesterday, the Enforcement Directorate visited three of our institutions, including Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Siddhartha Medical College at Tumakur, Siddhartha Medical College at Begur, and Siddharth Academy of Higher Education University,” Parameshwar told reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday.
He said the ED asked for the accounts for four to five years. “I have asked the staff to co-operate and provide them with whatever documents or details they asked for related to the institution. Obviously, they have questioned the staff in our accounts section,” the minister said.
Affirming trust in the law of the land, Parameshwar said, “Whatever comes out of their verification or search or whatever you call it, I am ready to co-operate. I have told the same to our staff. Because it is an institution. It is not an individual. ”
He refused to comment on the ED’s allegation that ₹40 lakh from the institutions was used to clear the credit card dues of actor Ranya Rao, an accused in a gold smuggling case.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested Ranya (Harshavardhini Ranya) from the Bengaluru airport on her arrival from Dubai on 3 March, and reportedly seized from her possession 14.2 kilograms of gold worth ₹12.56 crore. She was granted default bail on Tuesday, 20 May, but was not released because of a COFEPOSA case registered against her.
“I don’t want to comment at this point of time,” the minister said. Let the investigation get completed. They must give us a report. I don’t want to react,” he responded to a specific query.
Several senior Congress leaders claimed that Parameshwar was being targeted since he was the party’s Dalit face in Karnataka and eligible to become the next chief minister.
Parameshwar, however, did not comment on this charge. “There will be a time when I will come out and talk about it. At this point, no comments,” he said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
