ED raids residences of former minister Vinay Kulkarni, Aishwarya Gowda

BENGALURU: Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided former minister Vinay Kulkarni’s residence. A team of 16 ED officials conducted a search operation at Kulkarni’s residence in Dollar’s Colony. The officials were searching for documents and other evidence. The raid started on Thursday night and continued for over 24 hours.

The ED officials had raided four locations on Thursday, including Kulkarni’s house, and seized bank details related to his transactions. Kulkarni is accused of transacting around Rs 70 crore in two years. The ED officials had earlier taken Aishwarya Gowda into custody for questioning.

The ED team, consisting of 12 officials in four cars, conducted the raid and left the house with documents today. The raid has ended, but the investigation is ongoing.

It’s alleged that Vinay Kulkarni was using a Benz car registered in the name of Aishwarya Gowda’s husband, Harish.

On the ED raid, Vinay Kulkarni said, “This is a political conspiracy. The ED’s visit is one thing, but their intentions are another. I am a farmer. What can they find? They have already filed cases against me and are harassing me. I am not even able to visit my constituency”.

“Aishwarya Gowda had come to Kolhapur and stayed at my house. I don’t know what connection they think I have with her. There was some issue between Manjula Patil and Aishwarya Gowda, and I just called them to talk it out. Aishwarya Gowda had come to my birthday party, and later, I met her after during a festival”, he added.

“Whoever cheats people is wrong. Despite searching, the ED has not found anything. I am hurt by their behaviour. I do not know why I am always targeted. Do I need to beg them by falling at their feet? Maybe then they will leave me alone”, Kulkarni added.

Aishwarya Gowda’s house in Kirugavalu was searched by ED officials.

In Mandya district, the ED officials searched the house of Aishwarya Gowda at Kirugavalu in Srirangapatna taluk till late on Thursday night. A team of five officials conducted the search for about 13 hours.

The officials seized some documents from the house and also examined records at the Cauvery Grameena Bank in Kirugavalu. This comes on the back of the detection of huge transactions in her account.