BENGALURU, 17 JUNE

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Congress leader DK Suresh, the younger sibling of Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, for questioning in connection with an alleged cheating case related to a money laundering investigation involving a local woman, according to official sources on Tuesday.

Suresh, a former member of parliament, is required to appear on 19 June to have his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The federal agency had previously arrested a local woman, 33-year-old Aishwarya Gowda, in April following searches related to her and Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni.

The ED revealed that Gowda allegedly claimed associations with several "high-profile" politicians and deceived individuals by promising substantial returns on gold, cash and bank deposits. She purportedly misrepresented her relationship with Suresh, claiming to be his sister. In response, Suresh had lodged a complaint with City Police, asserting that his name was being "misused."

Sources indicate that the ED has also recorded Kulkarni's statement as part of the ongoing investigation. The money laundering case against Gowda and her husband, Harish KN, among others, is based on multiple FIRs filed at various police stations across the State.