ED raids on Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi continue for 9 hours; supporters stage protest
Bengaluru: Supporters of Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi staged a protest outside his government-allotted residence in Bengaluru on Wednesday as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials continued their searches at the premises for nine hours in connection with an investigation into alleged financial irregularities and overseas investments.
The supporters gathered outside the residence, held posters in support of Jarkiholi and raised slogans against the ED. The posters carried messages such as “ED puppet in the hands of the Central government”, “Let politics of hatred stop, democratic values sustain” and “We won’t bow down to ED pressure tactics”.
The ED search at the government residence began around 7 a.m. and continued for several hours. According to ED sources, searches were being conducted at 18 locations as part of the operation. Local police were deployed at the spot to control the crowd, while Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were also present at the premises where searches were being conducted.
ED officials questioned Satish Jarkiholi during the search and recorded his statement at his residence, sources said. The search at his Dollar’s Colony residence in Bengaluru was completed, following which ED officials reportedly took away documents and other materials.
Sources said officials also thoroughly searched cars parked inside the minister’s premises. A carpenter was reportedly called to the government residence by the ED team and remained inside the house for more than an hour during the searches.
The ED team also got lunch from outside at the premises as the searches continued. Officials are understood to have gathered information from people close to the minister regarding his financial dealings and alleged overseas investments. Printers, papers and other materials were also reportedly examined and taken into custody.
The ED also continued searches at properties linked to Jarkiholi’s family members, including those of his daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi and his son Rahul Jarkiholi.
Sources said Priyanka Jarkiholi was present at her residence in Belagavi when the searches were underway.
The overseas investment angle has also come under scrutiny in the investigation. Sources pointed to a visit by a delegation from Rwanda to Satish Jarkiholi’s properties in Belagavi two years ago.
Rwanda High Commissioner Jacqueline Mukangira had led a delegation to Belagavi on September 9, 2024. The delegation reportedly visited Jarkiholi’s two sugar factories, a private hotel and other properties before visiting the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
The High Commissioner had reportedly invited Jarkiholi to explore investments in Rwanda. Following the visit, Jarkiholi is said to have travelled to Rwanda on two or three occasions and spoken publicly about investment opportunities there.
The ED searches taking place on Wednesday, exactly two years after the Rwanda delegation’s visit, have also sparked discussion in political circles, although no official connection between the two developments has been established.
Congress leaders criticised the searches and questioned the motive behind the ED action.
KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad alleged that the Centre was targeting leaders belonging to the Scheduled Tribe and tribal communities.
“Why is the Centre spewing venom on ST, tribal and Adivasi leaders? If this is the case, we will not budge,” Hariprasad said.
Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader said he did not know the exact reason for the searches but questioned why Congress leaders were repeatedly being targeted.
“We do not know why the raids have taken place. But one thing is clear — why only Congress leaders? People will decide and understand the context. We are confident that Minister Satish Jarkiholi will not indulge in any such acts,” Khader said.
Minister for Scheduled Tribe Welfare Raghu Murthy defended Jarkiholi, describing him as an industrialist and social activist. He alleged that Opposition leaders had been targeted politically and claimed that such action was aimed at weakening their political influence.
Minister for Urban Development Yatindra Siddaramaiah, son of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, also questioned the ED action.
“ED is conducting raids on our Minister Satish Jarkiholi, and we have come to know about it. But making allegations against someone without any evidence, purely out of political vendetta, is not right. So, this also appears to be politically motivated. However, if more information comes out, I will react to it,” he said.
The searches were continuing at multiple locations, with officials examining documents, electronic equipment and financial records as part of the ongoing investigation.
