Belagavi

Afew weeks after multiple raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the properties of Joint Commissioner of Excise Y Manjunath, who is the brother in law of PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, the ED conducted searches at around 18 premises linked to the minister, including his residence in Bengaluru's Dollars Colony, government quarters and properties in Belagavi and Gokak, as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the issuance of bar licences and various other issues.

The searches, which began early in the morning on Wednesday, were also carried out at premises linked to his daughter and Chikkodi MP Priyanka Jarkiholi and other family-linked locations and properties. Locations in Maharashtra were also covered as part of the operation, according to sources close to Jarkiholi.

The ED action is reportedly linked to its ongoing probe into alleged corruption in the Karnataka Excise Department, including irregularities surrounding the issuance of 18 bar licences and suspected movement of illicit funds.

Continued on Page 5