Is there a link between K'taka Home Minister Parameshwara and the ED Raids on Ranya Rao?

Synopsis
In Bengaluru, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara is under scrutiny concerning alleged connections between ED raids at his institutions and actress Ranya Rao's gold smuggling case. He emphasizes ongoing investigations and his commitment to cooperate fully with authorities. Read on to explore his statements and the implications for his political future.
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara remains silent on the ED raids.
- Ongoing investigations are a focus of concern.
- Parameshwara emphasizes his willingness to cooperate with authorities.
- ED visited multiple institutions linked to Parameshwara.
- He highlights the importance of transparency in governance.
Bengaluru, May 22 (NationPress) Karnataka's Home Minister G. Parameshwara refrained from commenting on the purported connection between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at his institutions and the gold smuggling allegations involving actress Ranya Rao.
Addressing the media on Thursday, when queried about the ED's actions related to the gold smuggling case involving Ranya Rao, Parameshwara remarked, “The investigation is in progress. The end result is what truly counts. Until then, all discussions are mere speculation.”
In response to inquiries about the ED’s report indicating that Rs 40 lakh was transferred from his institution to Ranya Rao, the primary suspect in the gold smuggling incident, Parameshwara stated, “Allow them to proceed with their inquiries. As I have previously mentioned, I will offer full cooperation. They need to formally notify me and the institution about this issue, and we will respond appropriately.”
Parameshwara emphasized, “I will refrain from commenting on the alleged link between the ED raids and the gold smuggling case until the official report is released. Who has claimed there is a connection? I will not react to statements made by others.”
“As someone in a responsible position, I will not engage in speculative commentary,” he added.
Discussing the raids, he explained, “Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi visited three of our institutions and our university. I am not clear on the specific mandate or instructions they have received.”
He clarified that the institutions visited included Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Siddhartha Medical College in Tumakuru, Siddhartha Medical College in Begur, and Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education University.
“After their visit, they requested details of our accounts from the past four to five years. Once informed, I directed my staff to provide them with all necessary account details, including audited accounts from previous years,” he said.
Verification continued on Thursday, with him stating, “We are uncertain about the intentions behind the ED’s actions. However, we have fully cooperated with the ED officers and will maintain this stance. There’s no question of concealing anything.”
“I have always upheld the law. The law applies equally to everyone — there are no separate laws for the powerful and the less fortunate,” he asserted.
“I will continue to respect the law under all circumstances. This issue pertains to the institution, not to me personally. As an institution, we will cooperate fully and adhere to any directives they may issue,” Parameshwara added.
When asked about allegations from the Congress party regarding the BJP's targeting of leaders from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, he stated he was unaware of such claims. “I don’t wish to comment on this matter right now. I won’t say the ED considers caste background during investigations. I’m not sure in what context Congress leaders made those assertions.”
“I have no further comments on this,” he concluded.
When questioned if he was being targeted due to being seen as a potential next Chief Minister, Parameshwara chuckled and declined to elaborate.
He remarked, “The BJP is making accusations, but they are merely allegations. The ED investigators have not reached out to me directly. The searches were conducted solely at educational institutions.”
“Our institution has a legacy of 68 years and continues to thrive. We have established engineering and medical colleges. We even took over an engineering college on the outskirts of Tumakuru that was on the brink of closing at the suggestion of a Congress leader. Everything regarding this transaction is transparent — nothing is hidden. We are working to rejuvenate the institution, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
He added, “In the last 45 years, approximately 45,000 engineers and 10,000 doctors have graduated from our institutions. This is a humble service to society initiated by my father. We aspire for our institution to keep evolving.”