Aishwarya Gowda, aged 33, is an alleged con woman from Karnataka who is accused of swindling wealthy individuals by presenting herself as someone with high political connections. She is said to have falsely claimed to be the sister of senior Congress leaders D.K. Suresh and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Aishwarya Gowda on Thursday on charges of money laundering linked to multiple cases of fraud. She is accused of cheating several victims of over ₹20 crore by promising high returns on investments. Following her arrest, she was produced before the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru on Friday and remanded in ED custody for 14 days.
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What are the allegations against her?
Aishwarya Gowda allegedly defrauded a Bengaluru-based jeweller of ₹9.82 crore worth of gold by posing as a politically influential figure. She is also accused of cheating two plastic surgeons, a maternity doctor, and a businessman’s family in Mandya. She reportedly promised lucrative returns on investments but betrayed the trust of her victims.
According to police sources, Gowda cultivated an image of wealth and influence by employing bodyguards, using a fleet of luxury cars, and residing in a suite at a luxury hotel in north Bengaluru. She is said to have used her purported political connections to win the confidence of wealthy doctors, businessmen, and politicians. It is also alleged that she accessed the call detail records of one of her victims through police contacts.
What prompted the ED investigation?
During their investigation, Bengaluru City Police uncovered multiple cases of cheating involving Aishwarya Gowda. They also found that her bank accounts recorded transactions exceeding ₹70 crore. Police alerted the Income Tax Department and the ED, leading to the registration of an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and further investigation.
What is the political connection to the case?
Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni has been linked to the case. The ED conducted searches on premises associated with him, as well as those of Congress leader Tibbegowda, whose wife is among the complainants. During the police investigation, a luxury car belonging to Gowda’s husband was recovered from Kulkarni. It is alleged that Gowda gifted the car to him, although Kulkarni has denied receiving any gifts beyond a casual acquaintance, stating that he has been under the radar of central agencies for several years.
