ED Raids Against Jarkiholi Politically Motivated, Alleges Shivakumar

Bengaluru, Sep 9 : Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches targeting PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi and his associates were politically motivated and aimed at curbing the growing influence of an emerging Dalit leader.

The ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Karnataka and Goa as part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities and possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Reacting to the searches, Shivakumar accused the BJP of using central investigative agencies to target Congress leaders.

"Satish Jarkiholi is an influential Dalit leader. The BJP is not able to tolerate his stature and growth," he told reporters in Bengaluru.

Recalling the ED action against him in the past, Shivakumar alleged that central agencies were being misused against Opposition leaders.

"Earlier, they conducted raids against me and sent me to jail. Now, Congress leaders are being targeted and central investigating agencies are being misused," he said.

The Chief Minister extended his full support to Jarkiholi and said both the government and the Congress organisation would stand firmly behind the minister.

"Satish Jarkiholi has not committed any mistake. The government and the party will stand with him strongly, 100 per cent," Shivakumar said.

Questions overseas business rationale

Shivakumar also questioned the basis of the investigation into alleged overseas investments linked to Jarkiholi and his associates.

"Won't people carry out business overseas? Is there no provision in law for that? Is it an offence for family members to carry out business overseas?" he asked.

Describing Jarkiholi as a senior minister, industrialist and social worker, Shivakumar said there was no reason for him to be apprehensive about the ongoing investigation.

Links raids to 100-day celebrations

Shivakumar also alleged that the timing of the ED searches was intended to divert public attention from the Congress government's completion of 100 days in office.

"Tomorrow my government is completing 100 days. To derail the celebrations and divert the attention of the people, the BJP has planned this," he alleged.

He also referred to previous central agency action involving former minister B Nagendra and other Congress leaders, alleging a pattern of selective investigations.

Karnataka Congress president BK Hariprasad separately accused the BJP-led NDA government of using the ED, Income Tax Department and CBI to intimidate Opposition leaders.

"Jarkiholi is a senior leader of the Congress party and a minister in the Karnataka government. The raids against him do not surprise us," Hariprasad said.

He questioned why similar searches were not being conducted against BJP leaders and raised concerns over the scope of the searches involving Jarkiholi's family members and Y Manjunath, an Excise Department official.

The ED searches come amid its ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities and possible FEMA violations. The Congress leaders' allegations that the searches were politically motivated have not been established, while the agency's investigation is continuing.