The ED has taken major action against Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi. The ED has raided 18 of his locations, including his home in Bengaluru.
ED raids premises of PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday launched a major operation against properties linked to Karnataka Public Works Department Minister and senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi. ED teams are conducting searches at approximately 18 premises in Bengaluru and Belagavi, Karnataka, as well as in parts of Maharashtra. According to officials, these include Satish Jarkiholi's residence in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru.
In the morning, a team of ED officials, accompanied by CRPF personnel, arrived at the minister's official residence in two vehicles. A search operation was then launched within the premises. Tight security arrangements were made during the operation. However, the ED has not yet clarified what was recovered during the search.
Locations linked to MP daughter Priyanka are also under investigation.
According to ED sources, the scope of the investigation is not limited to Satish Jarkiholi. Premises linked to his daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi are also being searched. The agency is examining documents and other materials at approximately 18 locations in Bengaluru, Belagavi, and Maharashtra.
Satish Jarkiholi is the PWD Minister in the Karnataka government and is considered a senior Congress leader. He is also considered close to party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Therefore, the ED's action on the premises linked to the minister and his family is considered politically significant.
On June 24, the brother-in-law's house was also searched.
This action is also being linked to the ED's search conducted on June 24. At that time, the agency searched the home of Y. Manjunath, Additional Commissioner of Excise Department in Belagavi and brother-in-law of Satish Jarkiholi. Premises belonging to his close associates and relatives were also searched.
The ED action was part of an investigation into alleged illegal money transfers abroad. In addition to Manjunath's apartment in Bengaluru, properties belonging to his close associates in Mysuru and Arsikere were also searched.
Who is Y. Manjunath?
Y. Manjunath is the son of former Ballari MP Devendrappa. His wife, Satish Jarkiholi, is the sister of BJP MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi and Balachandra Jarkiholi. Following previous ED actions, the searches at premises linked to Satish Jarkiholi and his MP daughter, Priyanka, have added further significance to the investigation.
The ED's investigation is currently ongoing. Only after the searches are complete will it be clear what documents or other evidence the agency has recovered during the investigation and what legal implications this action will have.
