DK Shivkumar’s ‘Wedding Gift’ as an ED as an ED targets Home Minister Parmeshwar on the Gold Smuggling case. Bengaluru News

New Delhi: As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continued its discovery in institutions associated with Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parmeshwar, which is more than a money laundering investigation related to a gold smuggling, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar described him as a “clean and honest man”.Shivkumar defended God against the allegations tied to actress Ranya Rao, whose bank accounts are being investigated by hawala and housing entry operators for allegedly suspected fake transactions. Shivkumar said, “He may have given a gift of about Rs 15-25 lakh to Rao during some family programs or marriage, but this does not mean that he encouraged him to indulge in illegal activities like smuggling.” The ED is carrying out discoveries under the prevention of Money Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A case was registered earlier this year, when the agency took cognizance of the complaints filed by the CBI and took the Revenue Intelligence Directorate (DRI) into a broad gold smuggling network across India, with Rao’s name also emerged. “I talked to God, I met him in the morning. He has given Rs 15-25 lakh, we are in public life, many run trusts. Can a family program or wedding gifts be given. Can an influential person like God encourage him to indulge in illegal things like smuggling?” Shivkumar asked while addressing reporters. “If he (Rao) has done anything wrong, he should be punished according to the law,” he said. “As far as God is concerned, he is a citizen of a law, he is the state’s home minister, we are proud of him, he is a big leader. He was the president of the party for eight years, he has served a lot for the state. He has been with me since 1989, he is an MLA with me since 1989, he is a minister. He is a clean and honest man. He has given a gift for marriage. He will answer. , Shivkumar also said that he personally met God and assured him of full support of the Congress party.“He is participating in the cabinet today,” said Shivkumar. According to ED sources, an educational trust associated with God is suspected of inclusion of Rs 40 lakh towards Rao’s credit card bill. Payments, officials claim, was reportedly made on the instructions of a politically exposed person and lack of support documents or vouchers. Defending the charitable works by the trusts, Shivkumar said, “Charitable institutions often help people … Marriage, school fees, small donations can be made for hospital bills, such help can be done, I am not denying it. The rest of the cases, let’s see what they (Ed) will do.”