ED raids premises linked to Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi, MP daughter
18 premises being searched, including Jarkiholi's property in Dollars Colony and daughter Priyanka Jarkiholi and brother-in-law YD Manjunath's in Belagavi
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday (September 9) conducted searches at premises linked to Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi, his daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, and several others.
According to officials, the searches covered 18 locations across Karnataka, including the minister’s residence in Bengaluru’s Dollars Colony, premises linked to Priyanka Jarkiholi, and those associated with his brother-in-law Y. D. Manjunath in Belagavi.
Residences and other properties connected with family members, associates and businesses linked to the Jarkiholi family were also covered. CRPF personnel were deployed to provide security for the ED teams during the searches.
ED searches 18 locations
Priyanka Jarkiholi, 29, is the Congress MP representing the Chikkodi Lok Sabha constituency. There was no immediate response from Satish Jarkiholi, his daughter or the Congress party regarding the searches.
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The ED has registered a fresh case against Satish Jarkiholi. Officials said the new proceedings are reportedly under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), adding that the action is separate from the money laundering case involving Manjunath, an Excise Department official who was searched by the agency in June this year.
Fresh FEMA case against minister
The premises linked to Manjunath, the brother-in-law of Satish Jarkiholi, were searched again during the day as part of the fresh ED action. The agency has not stated whether Satish Jarkiholi was present at any of the locations during the searches, reported The Hindu.
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The June case concerned alleged corruption in Karnataka’s Excise Department. At the time, the ED claimed there was an “organised syndicate involving public officials, intermediaries and private individuals engaged in systematic collection and distribution of bribes”.
The agency further stated that several officials obtained liquor licences through family members or entities under their control and ran businesses indirectly.
Jarkiholi family’s liquor, sugar interests
Satish Jarkiholi served as Karnataka’s Excise Minister from 2013 to 2016. The Jarkiholi family has business interests in the sugar and liquor sectors.
The ED has now registered a fresh Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Satish Jarkiholi. It remains unclear whether information gathered during the June searches of premises linked to Manjunath contributed to the new case.
(With agency inputs)