Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at around 15 locations across Bengaluru, Belagavi and Goa in connection with alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Excise Department.
As part of the operation, ED officials raided the Bengaluru residence of Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi in Dollar’s Colony. Searches were also conducted at his residence in Belagavi, as well as a government-allotted residence in Bengaluru.
According to officials, a team of more than 25 ED officers arrived in around 18 vehicles and began the searches at around 7 a.m. The premises were secured with the assistance of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
The ED team also reportedly searched a flat associated with Jarkiholi in Bengaluru and properties linked to his daughter and MP Priyanka Jarkiholi.
Sources said Satish Jarkiholi does not frequently use his Bengaluru private residence. During the searches, ED officials reportedly took the housekeeper along with them for questioning.
The searches are reportedly linked to Y. Manjunath, a senior Excise Department official and a relative of Satish Jarkiholi. Manjunath, who is the Additional Commissioner of Excise for the Belagavi Zone, is the minister’s brother-in-law. The properties of Manjunath have also been raided in Bengaluru, Belagavi and Goa.
The ED had earlier raided Manjunath’s residence and other premises linked to his associates on June 24 as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in the Excise Department. The agency is reportedly probing an alleged Rs 178-crore excise scam.
Officials said the agency had recovered a diary during an earlier search of Manjunath’s office and had gathered information from the material. The investigation is also reportedly examining alleged hawala transactions and possible foreign links.
Manjunath had earlier approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a stay on the investigation.
The latest searches have reportedly been carried out by teams from the ED offices in Bengaluru and Goa, with the operation extending to multiple locations.
The raids have also acquired a political dimension, coming at a time when the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is marking 100 days in office.
The timing of the searches has triggered discussions in political circles, with Opposition leaders likely to raise questions over the alleged excise irregularities and the involvement of officials and political figures.
The searches were ongoing as of Wednesday morning, and further details are awaited from the ED.
(IANS)
