Updated On: 09 Sep 2026
BENGALURU: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday searched around 18 premises linked to Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, his daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, and his brother-in-law Y D Manjunath, prompting the Congress government to accuse the BJP-led Centre of using central agencies to target Opposition leaders.
The searches, reportedly part of a fresh investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), covered properties linked to Jarkiholi in Bengaluru, including the Dollars Colony area, and premises associated with Priyanka Jarkiholi and Manjunath in Belagavi. CRPF personnel accompanied the ED teams.
Officials said the investigation was not connected to an ongoing money-laundering case involving Manjunath, an excise officer. Further details were awaited.
‘Why target only Jarkiholi?’
Karnataka Congress president B K Hariprasad alleged that the ED, Income Tax Department and CBI were being used by the NDA government to “threaten” Opposition leaders and push them into what he called a political “washing machine”.
Questioning the search involving Priyanka Jarkiholi, who represents Chikkodi Lok Sabha constituency, Hariprasad asked whether the ED had obtained the Speaker’s permission before searching premises linked to an MP.
He also questioned why the premises of Manjunath’s father, Devendrappa, a former BJP MP, were not searched and why Jarkiholi’s brothers Ramesh, Balachandra and Laxman Jarkiholi, all BJP leaders, had not faced similar action.
“Why are you targeting only him (Satish Jarkiholi)?” he asked.
Hariprasad also said the Supreme Court had reprimanded the ED but alleged that the agency had failed to learn from it.
Shivakumar backs minister
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar described the searches as “politically motivated” and questioned their timing, coming a day before his Congress government completes 100 days in office.
He said Jarkiholi had legitimate businesses, had done nothing wrong and was cooperating with the investigation.
“There is nothing to worry about. But the timing shows that the BJP is politically misusing central agencies,” Shivakumar said, alleging that the action was intended to divert attention from the government’s 100-day programme.
“I will stand by him one hundred per cent. He has done no wrong, I know,” he said.
Shivakumar claimed he had cautioned Congress ministers and MLAs that they could face similar action. “They will not leave anyone. False narratives are stitched, false allegations are made, and the people are misled,” he alleged.
Calling Jarkiholi a prominent ST leader and a strong Congress leader, the CM alleged that the BJP was uncomfortable with his political rise and the Congress having a large number of elected ST leaders.
“It will backfire on them,” he said.
Nagendra, KPSC issues
Shivakumar also defended the Congress government’s handling of the alleged Rs 84-crore irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, saying the government itself had ordered the investigation and acted against those responsible.
He said former minister B Nagendra had resigned and claimed Rs 79 crore had been recovered, leaving Rs 5 crore, while alleging that the ED and CBI had failed to recover any additional amount.
On the KPSC recruitment controversy, Shivakumar defended Home Minister Priyank Kharge, saying he was the one who had brought the alleged irregularities to light. He questioned the appointment of suspended KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar and said the investigation should be allowed to proceed.
The CM also accused the BJP and JD(S) of misleading the public over the Bidadi township and NICE road projects, saying they had themselves signed the documents and initiated the projects.
He further alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was being targeted over his remarks on the alleged “purification” controversy involving AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, and accused the Centre of targeting SC/ST leaders.
The ED searches have added a fresh flashpoint to the escalating Congress-BJP confrontation in Karnataka, with the ruling party framing the action as political targeting while the agency proceeds with its investigation.
