Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi. File
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) began conducting raids on the residences and other premises linked to Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
The raids are on at his residences in Bengaluru, Belagavi and Gokak, apart from other locations. Over 15 locations, including residences of his family members, associates and businesses linked to the Jarkiholi family, are also being searched.
Presently, there is no clarity whether the Minister is at any of the locations being raided or not.
It can be recalled that in June earlier this year, ED had raided Y. Manjunath, a senior Excise official and the brother-in-law of Satish Jarkiholi under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, following an FIR registered by Lokayukta Police against excise officials over allegations of corruption. The officer faces charges of gaining illicit wealth by granting liquor licenses in violation of rules.
Following the raids on Mr. Manjunath and other excise officials, ED had said an “organised syndicate involving public officials, intermediaries and private individuals engaged in systematic collection and distribution of bribes”. ED said several officials allegedly obtained liquor licences in the names of their family members or entities controlled by them and operated businesses indirectly.
Mr. Jarkiholi had then said he was yet to understand why his brother-in-law Manjunath was raided by ED, as the Lokayukta could have probed corruption charges. But he refused to call the raids politically motivated.
It is key to note that Satish Jarkiholi also held charge as the Excise Minister of Karnataka between 2013 and 2016.
However, ED is yet to clarify whether the ongoing ED raids against Mr. Jarkiholi is linked to the earlier excise case or is an entirely new case.
Published – September 09, 2026 09:07 am IST
