Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: D.K. Shivakumar’s ‘wedding gift’ claim puts Parameshwara in a spot amid ED probe

In a new twist in the Ranya Rao case, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended Home Minister G. Parameshwara after allegations came against him over money laundering related to the gold smuggling case. Shivakumar described Parameshwara as a "clean and honest man". 

 

While speaking to the reporters, Shivakumar said that the home minister told him that he gave a wedding gift to the actor and there was "nothing wrong" in the gesture. 

 

"As a gesture to the people we know, we give a lot of gifts...He might have gifted around Rs 15-25 lakh to Rao...It was a marriage, nothing wrong with it," said Shivakumar. He had met Parameshwara at his residence on Thursday.  

 

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate continued its searches at institutions linked to Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 

 

Taking cognisance, a case was registered by the ED after complaints filed by CBI and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) into wider gold smuggling network across India, in which Rao's involvement is also suspected. 

 

According to ED officials, an educational trust linked to Parameshwara is suspected of diverting funds to Rao's credit card bill. 

 

Let the law take its course if the actress has done anything wrong, said Shivakumar. 

 

"As far as Parameshwara is concerned, he is a law-abiding citizen...he is a big leader. He was party president for eight years, he has done a lot of service to the state. We don't want to interfere with the law and ED. I just discussed with him, and I asked him what is the reality, he said at the time of the marriage he was given a gift and it is quite natural," the deputy CM added. 

 

Shivakumar also said that Parameshwara has the Congress party's full support. 

 

Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 from Bengaluru airport after she was caught, by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials, with 14.2 kgs of gold. Though Rao and a co-accused was granted bail by special court on Tuesday, she will continue in jail as she has been charged under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974.  

India