Bengaluru | September 9, 2026 — Enforcement Directorate searches at properties linked to Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi, his daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, and other associates triggered a political confrontation on Wednesday, with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar calling the action politically motivated.
Officials said the agency was searching around 18 premises across Karnataka as part of an investigation. The locations included properties linked to Satish Jarkiholi in Bengaluru’s Dollars Colony, those associated with Priyanka Jarkiholi and premises linked to Jarkiholi’s brother-in-law Y D Manjunath in Belagavi.
Shivakumar said the searches took place a day before his Congress-led government was due to complete 100 days in office. He questioned the timing and alleged that central investigative agencies were being used to target the Karnataka government and Congress leaders.
“ED searches on Satish Jarkiholi and his family are not something we were unaware of. There were searches on his family members earlier, too,” Shivakumar told reporters. He said Jarkiholi was involved in business transactions within the framework of law and had nothing to hide.
The chief minister said Jarkiholi was cooperating with the investigation and would respond to the questions raised by the agency. “There is nothing to worry about. But the timing shows that the BJP is politically misusing central agencies,” he said.
Shivakumar also said he had cautioned ministers and legislators that central agencies could take action against them. He alleged that false allegations and narratives were being created to mislead the public, and claimed that the searches could divert attention from the state government’s planned communication on completing 100 days in office.
“I will stand by him one hundred per cent. He has done no wrong, I know. He has businesses, and he will respond to questions asked by the authorities,” Shivakumar said, referring to Jarkiholi.
The chief minister described Jarkiholi as a senior minister, businessman and prominent Scheduled Tribe leader. He alleged that the action was linked to the minister’s political influence and the Congress’s representation among elected ST leaders. These claims were made by Shivakumar and were not accompanied in the report by an ED response.
Shivakumar also referred to earlier investigations involving former Karnataka minister B Nagendra and the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation. He said the state government had initiated investigations into the matter and claimed that Rs 79 crore out of the Rs 84 crore cited by former chief minister Siddaramaiah had been recovered, with Rs 5 crore remaining.
The chief minister further accused the opposition of politicising the Valmiki corporation case and of targeting Home Minister Priyank Kharge over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s recruitment process. He said Congress leaders and legislators should remain vigilant as investigations by central agencies continued.
The ED searches remain part of an ongoing investigation. The agency’s findings, the documents examined and any further action against the individuals or entities involved were not detailed in the report. Jarkiholi and the other people whose properties were searched have not been reported as accused or found guilty in the material available.
