Bengaluru, Sep 12 (IANS): Karnataka Home, IT and BT Minister, Priyank Kharge, on Saturday questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) allegations against Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, Satish Jarkiholi, asking whether investing in a foreign country was an offence and challenging the agency to establish the alleged money trail.
Priyank Kharge was responding to the ED searches at premises linked to sugar baron Jarkiholi, his family members and associates, following which the agency claimed to have found incriminating material relating to alleged illegal foreign investments and suspected bribes received in connection with PWD contracts.
“What is wrong in investing in a foreign country? Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself says we should invest abroad. Is he doing it illegally? Is it illegal?” Kharge questioned.
Referring to the ED’s allegation that Jarkiholi had acquired nearly 40 per cent stake in a gold mining company in Congo, Kharge said the location of an investment did not by itself make it illegal.
“Be it Congo or Canada, is investing an offence?” he asked.
Kharge said Jarkiholi had already stated that he was planning to make investments and accused the ED of creating a narrative that bribes were collected in Karnataka and the money was subsequently invested abroad.
“Minister Jarkiholi has clearly stated that he will issue clarifications. Let the ED prove the money trail. Let them name in which contract he has taken a bribe and where the investment was made,” Kharge said.
He also questioned the ED’s record of convictions and challenged the agency’s practice of issuing press statements detailing allegations before the conclusion of legal proceedings.
“I want to ask the ED, you have released many press notes, but what is the number of convictions? You say this is not politically motivated?” he asked.
Kharge said the release of a press note by an investigative agency could not by itself establish guilt.
“By merely releasing a press note, it doesn’t make things factually correct. The ED has released 196 press notes. How many convictions have happened? Only two. Based on a press note, are you saying my colleague is guilty?” he asked.
He further questioned whether BJP leaders would make their overseas travel and financial dealings public, and referred to allegations made by former BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal against BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra.
“Former BJP leader Basanagouda Patil has made statements against BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra. Have there been any raids on him? We will submit our passports. Will the BJP leaders give their passports? How many times have they gone to Dubai and Mauritius? Let all BJP leaders say how many times they have gone abroad,” Kharge said.
Kharge also accused central investigative agencies of being used against Opposition leaders and alleged that the CBI, ED and Income Tax Department were “caged puppets” controlled by the Union government.
He claimed that 198 raids had resulted in only two convictions and alleged that the majority of such actions were directed against Opposition leaders.
“Everything is political,” he alleged.
Referring to the previous cases involving Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Kharge said allegations made against political leaders should ultimately be tested in a court of law.
“Big example is our CM D.K. Shivakumar. What all they alleged, nothing stood in the court of law. Will the Centre and BJP apologise for the torture and character assassination done to Shivakumar?” he asked.
Kharge also claimed that political leaders who joined the BJP were subsequently treated differently by central agencies. He cited Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and political developments in Maharashtra while alleging that such actions were politically motivated.
On the ongoing KPSC recruitment scam controversy, in which allegations have also been raised against him, Kharge asked whether the agencies had released documents or evidence establishing his involvement.
“Why are we targeted? We are exposing them, questioning the RSS and questioning their policies. They are uncomfortable answering our questions,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister for Backward Classes, Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi also described the ED searches against Jarkiholi as politically motivated and said the PWD minister would produce the necessary documents in response to the allegations.
“Is it an offence to make foreign investment?” Tangadagi questioned, alleging that the ED was targeting Congress leaders while BJP leaders were not subjected to similar action.
Karnataka Minister for RDPR Eshwar Khandre also criticised the alleged use of central investigative agencies against Congress leaders.
“The ED, CBI and IT are being misused. The Election Commission is also being misused. They are targeting leaders who have a mass support base,” Khandre claimed.
He said the Congress was a strong political force in Karnataka and alleged that its mass leaders were being harassed in an attempt to weaken the party. He also claimed that the Supreme Court had criticised the misuse of central agencies.
