Karnataka High Court grants Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni interim protection in ED case

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday passed an interim order directing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to take any coercive action against Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Vinay Kulkarni, who was recently summoned in connection with a money laundering case filed against one Aishwarya Gowda. .Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar granted the central agency liberty to seek a vacation or a modification of this interim order if needed..Interestingly, the judge dictated today's interim order amid fierce protest by the ED's counsel, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Arvind Kamath, who said that he had not been given an opportunity to properly oppose Kulkarni's plea before today's interim order was dictated."How can your lordship's order be passed without hearing me? Please record that the order was passed without hearing me and that I was present in the last date of hearing also," ASG Kamath told the Court.The virtual proceedings of the Court were muted shortly after ASG Kamath voiced his protest..The order was passed on a plea filed by Kulkarni to declare a recent ED raid conducted at his premises illegal as well as to quash a May 2 summons issued to him by the central agency. The matter is tied to money laundering case filed against one Aishwarya Gowda, who is accused of entering into a criminal conspiracy with her husband Harish KN and others to dupe several people of crores. The ED has alleged that the accused took huge sums of cash, gold etc from several unsuspecting investors and assured them high returns, before failing to fulfil their promise. The accused also allegedly threatened investors of dire consequences if they complained of this scheme, by claiming that Gowda had close ties to various high-profile politicians..On April 25-26, the ED conducted raids at several locations in connection with this case and claimed that it had unearthed incriminatory documents as well as cash to the tune of ₹2.5 crore, which it classified as 'proceeds of crime.' Gowda was arrested on April 25. The ED also reportedly accused Kulkarni of having certain financial transactions with Gowda. Premises linked to Kulkarni were also raided by the ED in April. Kulkarni denied the ED's allegations publicly and claimed that he was being harassed as part of a political vendetta. In his plea before the High Court, Kulkarni urged the Court to quash any ED action against him taken in connection with this case. As interim relief, Kulkarni urged the Court to stay any ED action against him until his petition is decided.