Days after I-T raids, K’taka ex-dy CM’S aide kills himself
THE SLEUTHS WHO RAIDED THE RESIDENCE, OFFICE AND SIDDHARTH GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS OF G PARAMESHWARA TWO DAYS AGO HAD GRILLED RAMESH TOO
BENGALURU: Former deputy chief minister of Karnataka G Parameshwara’s confidante allegedly committed suicide here on Saturday, days after income-tax sleuths raided the residence,office and education institutions of the former deputy chief minister, police said.
Ramesh was found hanging from a tree near the Sports Authority of India grounds in the morning, the police said.
The sleuths who raided the residence, office and Siddharth Group of institutions belonging to Parameshwara two days ago had grilled Ramesh too.
Lamenting the death, Parameshwara said he had told Ramesh to be courageous and face the situation boldly.
Parameshwara also visited the site where Ramesh allegedly committed suicide.
“Don’t know why he committed suicide. This morning also, I spoke to him and told him to stay bold,” Parameshwara told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Income Tax officials summoned Parameshwara to depose before them on Tuesday after two days of extensive raids at his office, education institution and residence.
They (I-T officials) have summoned him on Tuesday.
The Congress leader said the I-T officials told him that the raids were carried out following complaints by some students.
Refusing to give any political colour to the raids, he said he was prepared to answer the income-tax officials.
In a press release on Friay, the income-tax department said it had searched a prominent business group in Karnataka which runs multiple educational institutions on October 9.
It said it unearthed the conversion of seats, which were originally to be allotted by merit through counselling by the medical counselling committee, into i nst i t ut i o nal quota seats through dropout system.”
The department said it had found incriminating evidence substantiating conversion of seats, commission payments to brokers and sale of seats in exchange of receipt of cash. Evidences of use of multiple agents for conversion of MBBS and PG seats have also been found, it added.
Diversion of funds in the form of payment of on-money for the purpose of purchase of immovable assets for the benefit of trustees has also been established including finding of cash in possession of seller, commission in the hands of broker and strong written and audio evidences found in possession of the parties concerned, the department said.
Evidences of handling of such cash generated, diversion for construction of hotels have also been found, said the income tax department.
Hawala transactions relating to movement of such cash have also been established, said the department adding that a total of ~ 4.22 crore of unaccounted cash has so far been found including ~ 89 lakh in the house of the main trustee. Evidences also reveal undisclosed investments in real estate.
Overall the total undisclosed income detected so far is around ~100 crore considering the cash donations received for 185 seats averaging ~ 50 lakh to ~ 65 lakh per seat and total seizure of undisclosed assets of ~ 8.82 crore.