Karnataka Min’s hand in Ranya gold smuggling & ED raids at TASMAC | Powertrip #93

Welcome to this week’s Powertrip, a political newsletter exclusively curated for TNM and NL subscribers by Dhanya Rajendran, Shabbir Ahmed, and Pooja Prasanna. In this week’s edition, learn about the involvement of a Karnataka sitting Minister in actor Ranya Rao’s gold smuggling case. After the Congress set up its EAGLE team last month to look into problems in the electoral system, one particular strategy suggests pinpointing Booth Level Officers and Assistant Returning Officers. The ED’s massive and meticulously planned raids on TASMAC outlets has a rattled Tamil Nadu government mulling approaching the courts for relief..Inside TrackExclusive stories, for your eyes only.Ranya Rao smuggling twist: Minister’s shadow emergesThe gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao has taken a dramatic twist, with reports now pointing to the involvement of a sitting minister in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet. Ranya was detained at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport last week after being caught with gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore.Soon after, Tarun Raju, the grandson of Atria Hotel’s owner, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with the same case.Now, investigators believe that a certain minister – after finding out that Ranya was involved in gold smuggling – may have pressured or even blackmailed her into continuing as a gold mule. The BJP has already caught on to this and demanded a probe. What we have been told is that the concerned minister is someone the BJP particularly dislikes and they are now busy gathering proof against him.Adding to the controversy, Ranya’s father, Ramachandra Rao — a senior police officer heading the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation — is also under the scanner. While the Congress government has ordered a probe into his role, the BJP is keeping the heat on him. BJP state president Vijayendra spoke out strongly on the issue, vowing to pursue it further, though Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka chose not to raise it in the Assembly..Congress’ EAGLE team to use scare tacticsThe Congress’ EAGLE team, or the eight-member Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts, has come up with several strategies to tackle issues with the electoral system. EAGLE was set up in February by the party to look at elections in the country and ensure free and fair polls. One of the suggestions that has come up is to fix the responsibility on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs). We are told that a senior leader suggested that the party should look at specific cases of fraudulent voter deletions or additions and file cases against BLOs and AROs. These are officers responsible for cleaning up the rolls and for on-ground verifications. Any malpractice would have to have been sanctioned by them and the logic is that if these officers start to feel the consequences, then they will refrain from indulging in them..TN government shaken by ED raids at TASMACThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), considered a cash cow, have sent shockwaves through Tamil Nadu’s government circles. This is because the ED’s search operation was massive in scale and meticulously planned. Raids were carried out at 26 locations related to TASMAC, with SNJ, Kals, Bannari Amman, MGM, and Accord distilleries and breweries coming under the ED’s radar.Though the ED did not recover cash during the raids, it appears to have uncovered evidence of unaccounted transactions, potentially amounting to several crores, with data deleted in many cases. TASMAC insiders say that the ED was also investigating discrepancies between the production of liquor from distilleries, the purchase orders issued by TASMAC, and the sale of liquor in TASMAC stores. The suspicion is that excess liquor is being manufactured and sold directly in the black market.The ED has seized several documents, including diaries and double diaries, from the residences of former TASMAC officials, analysis of which is underway. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government is considering approaching the courts to challenge the ED searches before the agency builds a case..Zero HourA political story of public importance.How the Modi government drew political mileage out of a military failure | The Caravan .How the Modi government drew political mileage out of a military failure..PowermovesTop 5 political storiesNGO Arappor Iyakkam alleges BJP-DMK nexus in Rs 992 cr paddy transportation scamBangalore Palace Grounds Bill passed amid BJP walkout: What does it say? Andhra govt extends 26-week maternity leave for all children, not just first twoTelangana Cabinet approves Bills on 42% BC reservation, SC sub-classificationWho cares for the carers? Calling out the exploitation of ASHAs

Karnataka Min’s hand in Ranya gold smuggling & ED raids at TASMAC | Powertrip #93

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