K'taka Home Minister among 4 ministers unhappy with former ED officer Sudam Das' nomination as MLC
Four ministers have written letter to Kharge expressing objection over nomination
Bengaluru: Four Karnataka Ministers including Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara have expressed their reservations and discontent over the nomination of former Enforcement Directorate Officer Sudham Das to the Legislative Assembly. The ministers have written a letter to AICC Chief Mallikarjun Kharge raising their objection.
Dr. G. Parameshwar, K.H. Muniyappa, H.C. Mahadevappa, and R.B. Timmapura penned letters urging the Congress party to reconsider the nomination of Sudham Das, who recently joined the party, to the upper house. The ministers emphasized that the selection process should have included consultation with all stakeholders before finalizing the nominee's name. Expressing their disappointment, they highlighted that neither the state leadership nor the high command had engaged them in discussions on this matter.
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The ministers went on to stress the importance of adhering to norms such as regional balance and social engineering when choosing candidates for nominations. Sudham Das, who abruptly resigned from his position at the Enforcement Directorate and subsequently served as the Information Commissioner of Karnataka, recently joined the Congress party. The ministers pointed out that he had not contributed to the party's recent Vidhan Sabha elections, further fueling their discontent.
In a resolute stance, the ministers strongly opposed Sudham Das's nomination to the upper house and called for its reconsideration. They urged the party leadership to prioritize the selection of loyal Congress leaders who have dedicated years to the party's cause.
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Kannada actress Ranya Rao, jeweller linked to Rs 40 cr gold smuggling: DRI
Bengaluru, Apr 03 (PTI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said jeweller Sahil Sakariya Jain played a key role in assisting Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao, in disposing of 49.6 kg of smuggled gold worth ₹40.14 crore.
According to the DRI’s remand note, Jain not only helped facilitate the illegal transaction but also abetted Ranya in hawala money transfers linked to the smuggling operation.
Jain, a jeweller by profession, was arrested on March 26 for assisting Ranya in the gold smuggling case.
He has been remanded to judicial custody until April 7.
Jain not only helped Ranya in allegedly disposing of the gold but also appeared to have facilitated Hawala money transactions.
"It appears that he assisted and abetted Accused No. 1 in disposing of approximately 49.6 kg of gold worth ₹40,13,59,374. He has also admitted to aiding A1 in transferring Hawala money amounting to around ₹38,39,97,000 to Dubai and ₹1,73,61,787 to A1 in Bengaluru," the DRI stated.
The agency further noted that the unaccounted cash of ₹2.67 crore seized from Ranya’s residence on March 4, as per the ‘Mahazar’ , was likely Hawala money she received as profit from purchasing gold in Dubai and selling it in Bengaluru.
The DRI added that Jain admitted to receiving a commission of ₹55,000 for each transaction.
"The voluminous evidence extracted from two mobile phones and a laptop belonging to Sahil Sakariya Jain further establishes his role in the smuggling of large quantities of gold into India by A1 ," the DRI stated.
According to the agency, in January 2025, Jain helped Ranya dispose of 14.568 kg of gold worth ₹11.56 crore and facilitated the transfer of ₹11.01 crore in Hawala transactions to Dubai.
Additionally, he admitted to transferring ₹55 lakh in Bengaluru.
In February, Jain allegedly assisted Ranya in disposing of 13.433 kg of gold worth ₹11.81 crore.
During the same month, he helped transfer ₹11.25 crore in Hawala funds to Dubai and ₹55.81 lakh to Ranya in Bengaluru.
Ranya, the stepdaughter of a DGP-rank officer in Karnataka, was arrested on March 3, shortly after returning from Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport.
The DRI officials seized 14.7 kg of gold from her possession.
