The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bengaluru on Thursday (April 26, 2025), arrested Aishwarya Gowda under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for her alleged involvement in a money laundering case.
She was produced before the Special Court (PMLA) and taken into custody for 14 days.
The agency also conducted search operations at 14 locations related to Aishwarya Gowda and her accomplice on Thursday and Friday.
“During the search operations, various incriminating documents related to money laundering activities through movable and immovable properties and other digital devices have been found and seized. In addition to the evidence, the Proceeds of Crime in the form of cash to the tune of ₹ 2.25 crore was also found and seized,” the ED said in a statement.
Earlier, the ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by the various police stations of Karnataka against Aishwarya Gowda, her husband Harish K.N. and others under various sections of IPC/BNS.
The allegation in the FIRs is that Ms. Gowda, her husband and others entered into a criminal conspiracy to defraud and cheat several individuals by taking gold, cash and funds through bank accounts from them promising high rate of return.
However, the accused has neither returned the money nor given the promised return and also threatened the investors of dire consequences in case of further pursuance of the matter by claiming her proximity to various high profile politicians, the official release, said.
Published – April 26, 2025 05:12 pm IST