Aishwarya Gowda, arrested on money laundering charges, is accused of impersonating the sister of Karnataka Congress leaders D K Suresh and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Aishwarya Gowda, a 33-year-old woman, in connection with multiple money laundering cases involving fraud against wealthy individuals in Karnataka. Gowda allegedly duped victims out of over ₹20 crore by promising high returns on investments, while flaunting fake political connections with prominent figures in the state.
Gowda was arrested on Thursday and presented in court, where she was remanded to ED custody for two weeks as investigations continue. She allegedly posed as the sister of Karnataka Congress leaders D K Suresh and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, using these false claims to gain access to affluent doctors, businessmen, and others.
In the past year, Bengaluru police have filed four cheating cases against Gowda. One of the most notable cases involves Vanitha Aithal, a jewellery store owner, who claims Gowda swindled her of gold and money worth over ₹8 crore by promising high returns on investment. Gowda is also accused of using her alleged police contacts to access the call details of Aithal and other victims.
In addition to Aithal, other victims include two doctors running a plastic surgery center, a maternity doctor, and a businessman’s family from Mandya. Gowda allegedly posed as a wealthy real estate dealer to manipulate these targets. She is also reported to have stayed in a suite at a luxury hotel in north Bengaluru to project an image of extreme wealth, accompanied by bodyguards and a fleet of luxury cars.
Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni is also named in the case, with photos of him with Gowda circulating publicly. Gowda is said to have gifted Kulkarni a luxury car, though he has denied any such gifts or close association with her, claiming they were merely acquaintances. On Thursday, the ED also carried out searches at Kulkarni’s premises in connection with the ongoing investigation into Gowda’s activities.
