Political stir gripped Karnataka on Wednesday morning as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated wide-ranging search operations targeting properties linked to state Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi. Accompanied by armed personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), investigative teams descended upon approximately 18 locations simultaneously. These searches cover major hubs including Bengaluru and Belagavi in Karnataka, along with select sites in Maharashtra. Officials in two vehicles arrived early in the day at the minister's official residence in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru, launching strict document verification under a heavy security cordons.
Investigation Extends to Daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi
The scope of this enforcement drive extends beyond the senior state cabinet minister. Investigators have brought sites connected to his daughter, Priyanka Jarkiholi, who serves as a Member of Parliament for the Congress party, directly under search proceedings. Multiple teams are inspecting financial ledgers, digital files, and property records across 18 designated addresses in Bengaluru, Belagavi, and Maharashtra. As head of the state's PWD ministry, Satish Jarkiholi is widely recognized as a key figure within Karnataka Congress politics and is known to share close ties with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Consequently, the multi-location crackdown carries significant political weight across the state.
Links to Earlier Search Operations on Relative Y. Manjunath
Wednesday's enforcement actions are connected to an earlier raid executed by the agency on June 24. During that previous operation, officials searched premises belonging to Y. Manjunath, the Additional Commissioner of the Excise Department in Belagavi, who is the brother-in-law of Satish Jarkiholi. That probe also covered locations tied to his close associates and relatives. The June 24 searches were prompted by investigations into suspected illegal money transfers sent abroad. As part of that investigation, search teams inspected an apartment owned by Y. Manjunath in Bengaluru, alongside properties of associates situated in Mysuru and Arsikere.
Broader Regulatory Context Involving TMC MP Mohammad Nadimul Haque
This development in Karnataka follows closely on the heels of another enforcement operation conducted earlier in the week. On Monday, agency officials raided premises associated with Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Mohammad Nadimul Haque. That search, centered on the offices of the Urdu daily newspaper 'Akhbar-e-Mashriq', lasted for more than 24 hours and uncovered alleged financial discrepancies amounting to around Rs 60 crore. Regarding Wednesday's ongoing searches at the Jarkiholi family premises, officials have not yet issued a formal inventory of documents or assets recovered from the sites.
