ED raids PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s Bengaluru residence over alleged excise, hawala links

Bengaluru: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Wednesday conducted a search at the Bengaluru residence of Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi in connection with allegations of irregularities in the excise department, including alleged corruption in bar licence issuance and suspected hawala transactions.

A team of ED officials arrived at Jarkiholi’s Dollars Colony residence in two separate vehicles early in the morning and began searches. Officials are understood to be examining documents and records available at the premises as part of the ongoing investigation.

The search comes months after the agency conducted extensive searches at the residence of Y. Manjunath, an excise department official and a close relative of Jarkiholi, in June. The earlier operation had covered several locations in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru and Athani.

The ED action against Manjunath was reportedly linked to allegations of corruption in the issuance of bar licences. During the searches, officials had reportedly recovered cash and valuables, besides documents relating to a large number of alleged benami bar licences.

Sources said the latest searches at the minister’s residence are aimed at examining whether there were financial links between the alleged irregularities in the excise department and other transactions under investigation.

Officials are reportedly scrutinising property-related documents, financial records and bank account details during the search. The possibility of seizure of documents or other material relevant to the investigation has not been ruled out.

The ED had reportedly found Rs 5.5 lakh in cash and gold ornaments valued at around Rs 13.3 crore during the earlier searches connected to Manjunath. The agency is also examining alleged links to illegal foreign funds and a suspected hawala network.

Security was tightened around the minister’s residence as the search operation continued. The latest action has attracted attention in political circles as it directly involves the residence of a serving state minister.

The searches are part of an investigation and do not by themselves establish wrongdoing against Jarkiholi or any other individual. Further details are expected after the ED completes its examination of the premises and records.

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The Hans India