ED conducts raids at Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi, MP daughter Priyanka premises

Jarkiholi is yet to respond to the present raids.

In June, the ED conducted raids at Manjunath’s residence in connection with an alleged syndicate to collect bribes. Manjunath is the son of former Ballari MP Y Devendrappa and brother-in-law of Satish Jarkiholi.

The ED had then said, “The state excise department is running like an organised syndicate network of public officials, their associates and private individuals for collection of bribes. The network works like a well-oiled machine which runs on corruption money generated by various excise shops which pay a fixed monthly bribe to the field officers. The money is also generated during renewal/shifting of licences and also during issuing of fresh licences. The bribe collected is centrally pooled and distributed with the help of intermediaries and associates, who maintain an account of money received and paid in an unofficial cash book (seized from one premise).”

The central agency had noted that excise officers use the bribes and other gratification for personal consumption, investment in properties and business. One unique modus of money laundering detected during the investigation has revealed that most of the officers of the Excise department have obtained liquor licenses in the names of their family members or entities controlled by family members and are illegally running liquor business.

“The income generated from these businesses is projected as generated from legal businesses, thus integrating the Proceeds of Crime in the regular economy,” the ED had said.