Bizwoman accused of gold cheating illegally got call records: Cops

Bengaluru: Investigation into allegations that a businesswoman, claiming to be a former MP's sister, cheated a few jewellers of gold worth several crores has revealed that she had managed to procure the call detail records (CDR) of four individuals. The illegal act came to light when investigators got the mirror image and data extract of the iPhone of the accused woman, Aishwarya Gowda alias Navya Sri, from the forensic science laboratory. Aishwarya is an accused in multiple cases and has got bail from a court. Police have registered a fresh case against Aishwarya and others based on the complaint filed by the investigating officer in the gold cheating case — assistant commissioner of police Bharath S Reddy. According to the complaint filed on Wednesday, Aishwarya was arrested in a case of cheating registered at Chandra Layout station in Dec 2024, based on a complaint filed by Vanitha S Aithal on Dec 23, 2024. Aithal had alleged that Aishwarya, her husband KN Harish, and actor Dharmendra had taken gold from her, on the pretext of paying for it, and later cheated her using the name of a politician. The cops seized five phones from Aishwarya and two phones from her husband, following their arrest in the case. The same phones were used in another case registered at the same police station in Jan this year. Police took the court's permission and took the mirror images and data extract of the phones. One of the phones owned by Aishwarya is an iPhone 11 Pro Max. The data retrieved revealed that she took the CDR of four individuals between 2021 and March 2024. Reddy, in his complaint, stated that CDR can be taken only by a law-enforcing agency and only during the investigation of criminal cases. The person whose CDR is taken must be an accused in a criminal case. If not, no agency can take CDR as it is considered a breach of privacy. "We suspect someone in the police department helped Aishwarya to get the CDRs. The investigation is in progress to find out who helped her," the officer added. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act , The Telecommunications Act, and IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant or banker, merchant or agent) against Aishwarya and other unknown persons. One of the four persons whose CDR was taken is a relative of Aishwarya. She told TOI: "I'm really shocked he took my CDR. There is nothing between me and her to take the CDR. I never received a call or any information on the details taken by her." The quartet also includes Aishwarya's family doctor from Rajarajeshwarinagar, who has also lodged a cheating complaint against her. "I'm shocked... I'll think about approaching the police about it as it is illegal. I'll even consider approaching the Chief Justice of Karnatakaand others concerned. If she has taken my CDR, it is a serious crime," the doctor said.