Bengaluru, September 10 (Daily Kiran) : Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials continued their raids on properties associated with Karnataka’s Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Thursday evening. This action coincided with protests across the state from his supporters and various organizations.
During the searches, authorities reported finding ₹3 crore in cash linked to Jarkiholi, his daughter, Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, and other relatives and associates. The ED’s operations spanned 18 locations in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Gokak, and Goa.
Investigators are probing transactions related to foreign investments and mining. Information gathered during the searches has been sent to the ED headquarters for further instructions. Digital evidence was also collected from the raided properties.
To assist in the investigation of financial transactions and documents, bank officials have been summoned. The searches at the homes of Jarkiholi’s close associates, including Vitthal Parasannavar, Raju Dharga Shetty, and Malagouda Patil, concluded on Thursday, while operations continued at four locations in Belagavi.
The ED also searched the residence of Preeti Kakatkar, the personal secretary to the Excise Commissioner Y. Manjunath, who is Jarkiholi’s brother-in-law. Meanwhile, protests erupted in various parts of Karnataka in support of Jarkiholi and against the ED’s actions.
In Bengaluru, supporters of the minister staged silent protests while holding placards that read, “Truth Never Dies” and “We Will Not Bow to ED’s Threats.” Swami Prasannananda of the Valmiki Guru Peetha visited the protest site to express his support, stating, “Satish Jarkiholi is not just an individual but a force. He has made a significant impact on the state and is a powerful figure in its politics.” He alleged that the raids were politically motivated.
Congress workers in Athani, Belagavi district, took to the streets to condemn the ED’s actions, blocking the Sankeshwar-Vijayapura road and chanting slogans against the operation. In Dharwad, Dalit organizations protested and voiced their dissent against the central government, while in Gadag, leaders from the Ahinda organizations rallied under the banner of ‘Manav Bandhutva Vedike’.
Protesters accused the ED of conducting the raids for political reasons, targeting Jarkiholi specifically. In response to the ongoing raids, Jarkiholi’s supporters have planned a significant protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Friday.
The ED’s search operations, which began on Wednesday, are part of a broader investigation into the properties and financial dealings of Jarkiholi and his associates. The agency is currently examining documents, digital devices, and financial records uncovered during the raids.
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