The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched raids on educational institutions owned by Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, which is shaping up to be a major political development in the state. On May 21 morning, ED officials carried out simultaneous searches at multiple campuses of the Siddhartha Education Institution, notably the Siddhartha Medical College in Heggere near Tumakuru, the SSIT College in Tumakuru, and another institution located in T Begur near Nelamangala.
Sources indicate that over ten ED officials, arriving in three vehicles, began searches at SSIT at around 9am. The focus of the operation appears to be the examination of financial documents and administrative records. Media personnel were barred from entering the premises, and the area was cordoned off by police under the supervision of a DySP to ensure security and confidentiality during the proceedings.
A Shadow from the Past: 2019 IT Raids and Controversy
This is not the first time institutions linked to Dr Parameshwara have come under the scanner. In 2019, the Income Tax (IT) Department had raided the same Siddhartha institutions in connection with alleged irregularities in medical seat allocations. That operation had sent shockwaves through the state, particularly when Parameshwara’s close aide, Ramesh, was found dead in an apparent suicide shortly after being questioned by tax authorities.
Ramesh’s death — discovered as a hanging on the Jnana Bharathi university campus in Bengaluru — led to intense political controversy. At the time, the then Opposition Leader and current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the IT department of mental harassment, claiming it drove Ramesh to suicide. Though the raid was halted soon after the incident, the political and emotional fallout lingered.
The IT Department had reportedly passed along findings from its 2019 raids to the Enforcement Directorate, which may have led to today’s operation — a continuation of financial scrutiny into the affairs of the educational trust.
A Sensitive Moment for the State Government
Dr G Parameshwara, a senior Congress leader and one of the top ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet, now finds himself at the centre of a high-profile ED probe. Given his current portfolio as the Home Minister — responsible for overseeing the state’s law and order — the raids assume additional gravity and raise questions about transparency, governance, and accountability within the administration.
The Congress government in Karnataka has frequently accused central agencies like the ED and the IT department of being used as political weapons by the BJP-led Centre. However, the ED insists that the raids are based on financial evidence and are not politically motivated. Still, the timing and targeting of a top state minister will inevitably raise eyebrows and provide fodder for opposition parties.
Karnataka; Opposition Leader Narayanaswamy Defends Probes, asked why fear if not done wrong ?
The Enforcement Directorate raids on educational institutions linked to Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara have triggered sharp political reactions. While many Congress leaders have labelled the raids as politically motivated, senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, has staunchly defended the central investigative agencies.
Speaking to the media, Narayanaswamy questioned the Congress party’s panic over the raids, asserting that “if there is no wrongdoing, why fear an investigation?” He emphasised that investigative agencies like the ED and CBI are simply doing their jobs. “These institutions did not start functioning under the BJP. They existed during Congress regimes too. Should we shut them down just because they are now doing their work?” he asked.
“Why Fear If You’re Clean?”
Narayanaswamy’s statement comes in direct response to the outrage from Congress leaders over the raids at institutions run by the Siddhartha Education Trust, owned by Minister G Parameshwara. The ED is reportedly probing financial irregularities related to previous I-T findings dating back to 2019, when raids had also led to a political storm following the suicide of one of Parameshwara’s aides.
“Raids have taken place during every government’s tenure. If there is no corruption, there is nothing to worry about. But when voices rise in fear and defensiveness, one must question what exactly is being hidden,” Narayanaswamy remarked.
Sharp Attack on Minister Priyank Kharge
In a more controversial statement, Narayanaswamy launched a scathing personal attack on Minister Priyank Kharge, comparing him unfavorably to his father, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. “When it comes to speaking on national leadership or the Prime Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge is the rightful voice of the Congress. But every time Priyank Kharge opens his mouth, he ends up criticising the Prime Minister and the central government,” he said.
In an analogy that has already drawn backlash, Narayanaswamy added, “When an elephant walks, it doesn’t turn to look back at a barking dog. The Prime Minister is the elephant, and Priyank Kharge is like the dog barking in vain.” he added.
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