Bengaluru: ED arrests woman who ’cheated’ people, claimed ’proximity’ with politicians

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, April 27, 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered ₹2.25 crore in unaccounted cash from the residence of Aishwarya Gowda, a 33-year-old woman arrested on charges of money laundering, according to an official statement released on Saturday.

Gowda allegedly posed as the sister of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, to blackmail jewellers and business establishments.

The ED’s Bengaluru Zonal Office arrested Gowda on Friday under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Following her arrest, she was produced before the Special PMLA Court, which granted the ED 14 days’ custody for further investigation.

Search operations were carried out on April 24 and 25 at 14 locations linked to Gowda and her associates under the provisions of the PMLA. During these operations, the ED seized various incriminating documents, digital devices, and evidence related to money laundering involving movable and immovable properties. Additionally, the agency recovered ₹2.25 crore in cash as proceeds of crime.

The ED had initiated its investigation based on multiple FIRs filed at different police stations across Karnataka against Aishwarya Gowda, her husband Harish K.N., and others. According to the FIRs, Gowda and her accomplices allegedly conspired to defraud individuals by collecting gold, cash, and bank transfers under the false promise of high returns. The accused neither returned the investments nor delivered the promised gains, and reportedly threatened investors by boasting of her alleged connections with influential politicians.

Aishwarya Gowda is also accused of cheating a Bengaluru-based jeweller out of gold worth ₹9.82 crore by falsely claiming to be the sister of D.K. Suresh.

Meanwhile, the ED recently conducted raids on Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni and another Congress leader, Tibbegowda, whose wife had lodged a complaint against Gowda.

Former MP D.K. Suresh has publicly clarified that neither he nor his family has any association with Aishwarya Gowda.

Further investigation into the case is ongoing.