2 hrs ago
ED Searches Karnataka Minister’s Premises Over Foreign Investment
The Enforcement Directorate searched several places connected to Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi and his family.
The searches were conducted under a law covering foreign exchange and overseas investments.
Jarkiholi said the main issue was a foreign investment.
He said officials also took cash worth about Rs 1-2 crore.
He claimed the money belonged to him and said he would try to get it back by showing documents.
He said no bank accounts had been frozen.
Jarkiholi denied that he or his family were harassed.
He also said central agencies may be targeting some political leaders more than others, although he said he would cooperate with the investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate searched about 18 premises in Karnataka under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Satish Jarkiholi said the investigation mainly concerns a foreign investment and promised to provide requested documents.
Jarkiholi said officials took an estimated Rs 1-2 crore in cash that he claimed belonged to him.
He said no bank accounts had been frozen and described the action so far as only a search.
Jarkiholi denied harassment but alleged central agencies scrutinize opposition leaders more intensely than BJP leaders.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate searched premises linked to Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, his daughter and Chikkodi Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, and his brother-in-law Y D Manjunath.
- What
- About 18 premises were searched as part of a fresh investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
- Where
- The searches covered locations in Karnataka, including Belagavi, Bengaluru and Gokak.
- When
- The searches took place on Wednesday, with Jarkiholi speaking to reporters on Thursday, September 10.
- Why
- Jarkiholi said the agency was mainly examining a foreign investment.
Jarkiholi’s Position
Investigation Perspective
Purpose of the searches
Jarkiholi’s Position
Jarkiholi said the searches were mainly focused on a foreign investment and that he would provide the required documents.
Investigation Perspective
The Enforcement Directorate described the action as part of a fresh investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act; the report does not state the agency’s detailed conclusions.
Political targeting
Jarkiholi’s Position
Jarkiholi alleged that central agencies act more intensely against some opposition-linked leaders and said the sequence of cases was creating concern.
Investigation Perspective
Jarkiholi also said it was too early to conclude that the searches were linked to political pressure or inducements.
Treatment during searches
Jarkiholi’s Position
Jarkiholi denied that he or his family were harassed and said there had been no grilling or drilling.
Investigation Perspective
The agency conducted searches and took cash and documents, but the report provides no separate statement from the agency about the conduct of the searches.
Key facts
- Investigating agency
- Enforcement Directorate
- Legal framework
- Foreign Exchange Management Act
- Premises searched
- About 18 across Karnataka
- Cash taken
- Jarkiholi estimated the amount at Rs 1-2 crore
- Bank accounts
- Jarkiholi said none had been frozen so far
- Minister’s position
- He said he would provide documents and cooperate with the agency
Quotes
Satish Jarkiholi
Karnataka PWD Minister discussing the legal basis of the searches
“They will issue us a notice. We still have to see under which sections they proceed and what action they take. We will provide all the information they ask for. We will cooperate with them in every way”
theprint.in
“The notice we received was under FEMA. It (searches) has been done under the Foreign Exchange Management Act”
theprint.in
Sources
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