ED raids on Minister Jarkiholi politically motivated, Shivakumar could be next: Priyank Kharge

Bengaluru, September 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Karnataka Home and Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches at the residences of Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi were politically motivated and part of a wider strategy to target opposition leaders.

Kharge made the remarks after meeting Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his Bengaluru residence, as the ED conducted searches at multiple locations linked to Jarkiholi and his associates.

Warning that the action could be followed by raids against other senior Congress leaders, Kharge said, “The raid on Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s residence is only the beginning. You may see raids at my residence and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s residence as well. You wait and see.”

He alleged that more Congress leaders could come under scrutiny as elections approach, claiming that the BJP-led Centre was relying on central agencies to target political opponents.

“As the elections near, more leaders will be targeted — whoever they consider a threat,” Kharge said, sarcastically suggesting that the BJP could contest the polls under the leadership of the “IT Department and the ED”.

Kharge also questioned the record of ED investigations, claiming that 196 raids had been conducted in Karnataka over the last six years but that charges were proved in only two cases, resulting in two convictions. He further claimed that around 97 per cent of the raids targeted opposition leaders.

Describing the operation as a “Centre-sponsored ED raid”, Kharge alleged there was no substance to the case against Jarkiholi. He said the Income Tax Department and ED were not under the state government’s control and accused the central agencies of becoming “caged parrots” of the Union government.

Kharge said Congress would not be intimidated by the raids and would continue its political agitation. He also sought answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the number of ED raids and convictions.