K’taka ex-Dy CM’s aide found hanging

Bengaluru, October 12

A confidant of Karnataka’s former Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara allegedly committed suicide here on Saturday, days after income tax sleuths raided the residence, office and education institutions of the Congress leader, police said.

Ramesh was found hanging from a tree near the Sports Authority of India grounds in the morning, the police said. He hailed from Mellehalli in Ramanagar, they said. He started his stint with the Congress as a typist and became close to Parameshwara. 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. “Don’t know why he committed suicide. This morning also, I spoke to him and told him to stay bold.”

Parameshwara, who had served as the Congress state president, visited the place where his confidante committed suicide.

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 me on Tuesday. So, I will go there,” Parameshwara told reporters here on Saturday. The Congress leader said the I-T officials told him the raids were carried out following complaints by some students. It could be possible but verification should also take place, he said. He refused to give any political colour to the raids, saying he was preparing to answer regarding the findings of income-tax officials.

“I have to reply about what has happened with regard to the admissions and what information they have with them,” Parameshwara said.

The I-D Department said in a press release on Friday it had search prominent business group in Karnataka that runs multiple educational institutions on October 9.

It claimed to have unearthed conversion of seats, originally allotted by merit through counselling by the medical committee, into institutional 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.

Hawala transactions relating to movement of such cash had been established, said the department adding a total of Rs. 4.22 crore of unaccounted cash had so far been found, including Rs 89 lakh in the house of the main trustee. Evidences also reveal undisclosed investments in real estate. — PTI 

Rs 4.22 crore seized 

• Parameshwara aide's death comes a day after the I-T Dept said Rs 4.22 crore in unaccounted cash had been found during raids since October 10
• Tax sleuths had raided Parameshwara's properties for alleged tax evasion by Siddhartha group of education institutions owned by him and his family