ED raid on excise official: Jarkiholi questions ‘unprecedented’ action

Belagavi: Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Friday expressed surprise over the large-scale Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on excise department additional commissioner Y Manjunath, his relatives, and associated premises.Addressing mediapersons here, Jarkiholi termed the operation unprecedented, stating that such an extensive ED action against a state govt official on corruption charges was rare. “This is perhaps the first time a central agency has conducted such a wide-ranging raid on a state govt employee,” he said.The minister also raised concerns over procedural aspects, noting that the state already has agencies to probe corruption involving its officials.

He expressed uncertainty over the ED’s claim that its action was based on inputs from the Karnataka Lokayukta. “It is unclear how information was shared with the ED, especially when the earlier Lokayukta case against Manjunath was quashed by the court,” he added.Jarkiholi maintained it was too early to conclude whether the raid was politically motivated, even as the 2028 Assembly elections approach. “We must wait for the course of the investigation, the nature of the allegations, and how the case is justified in court.

It may take at least six months to properly assess the matter,” he said.He indicated that the probe is still at a preliminary stage and that the ED may summon Manjunath for further questioning. “I will be meeting Manjunath today to understand what exactly transpired and to discuss the future legal course,” the minister said.Responding to reports of bar licences held in the names of Manjunath’s relatives, Jarkiholi said there was nothing unusual.

“His family has been in the liquor business for over three decades. It is not surprising if licences are held in the names of siblings and relatives,” he clarified.On illegal miningOn a separate issue concerning alleged illegal mining on 14 acres of govt land in Belagundi village of Belagavi taluk, the minister blamed the director of the mines and geology department in Bengaluru for the lapse. He said that despite corrective reports from local officials, the earlier decision was reiterated.“I will personally meet the director in the coming days. The land belongs to the revenue department, but it was leased to a private entity by the mines and geology department without proper consent,” he said.