Daijiworld Media Network - Tumakuru

Tumakuru, May 21: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on multiple premises belonging to the Siddhartha Group of Institutions, owned by Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara, on Wednesday.

Sources said ED officials arrived early in the morning and began scrutinising documents at several locations, including Siddhartha Medical College and Hospital in Tumakuru, Siddhartha Institute of Technology (SSIT), Siddhartha Engineering College, the head office of the Siddhartha Group located in Siddhartha Nagar, and the Siddhartha Medical College campus near T Begur in Nelamangala.

Separate teams of ED officials carried out the raids simultaneously at three major centres, with over 30 personnel reportedly involved in the operation. The officials arrived in about nine vehicles and began inspecting records at the respective campuses.

While the exact reason for the raids is yet to be officially confirmed, sources speculate a possible connection to a money laundering case involving recent financial transactions related to HMS Engineering College, allegedly purchased by Parameshwara. The raids may also be linked to the gold smuggling case in which a person named Ranya Rao was arrested recently.

It is worth noting that four years ago, the Income Tax department had conducted similar raids on the same institutions, during which unaccounted cash amounting to several crores was reportedly seized. That case had also led to the registration of a money laundering probe.

Further details are awaited.