Bengaluru, 22 May 

The ED on Thursday continued its searches at places linked to State Home Minister G Parameshwara as part of the probe into alleged gold smuggling-linked money laundering case against Kannada actress Ranya Rao and others, official sources said.

According to sources, searches continued in Siddhartha Engineering College, Siddhartha Medical College and Siddhartha College in the State.

The ED sleuths on Wednesday raided 16 locations in the State under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) targeting hawala operators and accommodation entry operators who allegedly made "fake" financial transactions into Rao's accounts.

The ED sources said 'an educational trust' is suspected to have 'diverted' funds and made a payment of Rs 40 lakh towards the credit card bill of Rao, allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual.

Parameshwara meanwhile assured full cooperation with the ED.

"As a person who believes in the law of the land, I am prepared to cooperate with whatever comes out of their verifications or searches," he said.

He declined to comment on the investigation and or fuelling the speculation that he was targeted due to his Dalit background. 

Parameshwara also called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The details of their conversation remain unknown but Congress sources said Parameshwara apprised Siddaramaiah of the sittuation.

Many rallied behind Parweshwara’s, most notably DK Shivakumar, who said he was "clean and honest man".

"I spoke to Parameshwara, I visited him in the morning. He has given Rs 15-25 lakh, we are in public life, many run trusts. At a family event or marriage, gifts might have been given. Will an influential person like Parameshwara encourage her to indulge in illegal things like smuggling," asked Shivakumar. "If she (Rao) has done anything wrong, let her be punished in accordance with law."

At a family event or marriage, gifts might have been given. Will an influential person like Parameshwara encourage her (Ranya Rao) to indulge in illegal things like smuggling…? Charitable institutions often help people... small charity might have been done for marriage… I'm not denying it

DK Shivakumar, Dy Chief Minister

The ED actions undertaken at the behest of the PM himself reflect the politics of harassment, vendetta, and intimidation of which he is the master. The BJP is clearly nervous and worried by the achievements of the Karnataka government over the past two years

Jairam Ramesh, Congress communications head

This is political targeting.... This is just another intimidation tactic by the central government... ED, IT, CBI are being used for political reasons to destabilise governments of other parties

Priyank Kharge, Minister of Rural Development