Reddy Backs ED Raid on Jarkiholi, Calls for Probe into Police Posting Allegation

GANGAVATHI, Sept 12 : BJP MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy on Saturday defended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the residence of Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi, saying such searches are carried out only when there are documents or evidence warranting investigation.

Speaking to reporters in Gangavathi, Mr. Reddy rejected allegations that the ED action was politically motivated and said officials would not conduct raids without sufficient grounds.

“If the raid on Satish Jarkiholi is politically motivated, then one would also have to say that the earlier ED raid on me was politically motivated,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said the ED action indicated that allegations of illegality or malpractice required investigation and that the truth should emerge through due process.

Referring to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s reported statement that the ED could conduct searches at the premises of four or five more ministers, Mr. Reddy said such a statement would imply that allegations had also been levelled against those ministers.

On former minister Iqbal Ansari’s allegation that a police posting involved a payment of Rs 1 crore, Mr. Reddy termed the charge serious and called for an independent investigation.

He said Minister Shivaraj Thangadgi should have referred the allegation to the Lokayukta or the CBI instead of asking the accuser to resign and contest elections.

Mr. Reddy said he would personally approach the Lokayukta seeking a thorough probe and maintained that an impartial investigation should establish whether the allegations were true or false.