Illegal ore case: ED arrests Karnataka Congress MLA Satish Sail; 6.7kg gold seized

BENGALURU: Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Karwar's Congress MLA Satish Krishna Sail on money-laundering charges in the 2010 illegal iron ore export case.Sail was brought to Bengaluru late Tuesday night and subjected to tests at Bowring Hospital before being produced before the magistrate.

According to sources, ED will seek Sail's custody for further probe.

ED conducted raids on Aug 13 and 14 at multiple locations in Uttara Kannada, Goa, Mumbai, and New Delhi under Prevention of Money-Laundering Act. The value of illegal exports was put at Rs 86 crore. During the search, ED officials seized Rs 1.4 crore from Sail's residence and Rs 27 lakh in cash from Sri Lal Mahal offices. Further, 6.7kg gold was seized from the Sail family's bank locker. More than Rs 14 crore was frozen.

ED said that Sail, in collusion with other business entities and Belekeri Port officials, illegally exported iron ore fines weighing 1.2 lakh tonnes between April 19, 2010 and June 10, 2010.