CH NEWS

BENGALURU

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income Tax Department, alleging that central agencies were being used to target Opposition leaders.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge questioned the number of raids and press notes issued by the agencies compared with convictions. He claimed that 196 raids or press notes had been recorded in recent years but resulted in only two convictions.

Kharge also alleged that a large majority of the agency actions were directed against Opposition leaders and described the trend as politically motivated. His remarks came days after the ED conducted searches linked to Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi, his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, and other people associated with the case.

The ED conducted searches at 18 locations, including the residences of Satish Jarkiholi, Priyanka Jarkiholi and Jarkiholi’s brother-in-law Y Manjunath.

The agency has said the searches were part of a separate money-laundering investigation against Satish Jarkiholi and were not connected with the alleged excise case involving Manjunath. The searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Kharge questioned whether political leaders could be considered guilty merely on the basis of an agency press note. He demanded that the ED make the evidence and facts concerning the case public.

He said the matter could be discussed during the Assembly session if the agency placed the evidence before legislators.