Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids on the residences and offices of Karnataka Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and his family members have triggered a fresh political confrontation in the state, with the ruling Congress alleging political vendetta and the BJP maintaining that the agency is carrying out its statutory duties.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar accused the BJP-led Centre of using central investigative agencies to target the Congress government and its leaders.
Congress alleges misuse of central agencies
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar alleged that the ED was being used as a political weapon against the Congress government.
“ED raid against Satish Jarkiholi politically motivated; BJP may target other ministers as well.”
– CM DK Shivakumar pic.twitter.com/kQ9p8UvkbI
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) September 9, 2026
He cautioned ministers to remain careful and alleged that investigative agencies were attempting to influence public perception through what he described as false stories and allegations.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge also termed the raids politically motivated and said the state government could not be intimidated by such action.
Kharge questioned whether the Centre intended to use agencies such as the CBI, ED and Income Tax Department to fight future Karnataka elections, while alleging that the BJP had become politically weak in the state.
‘Government cannot be intimidated’
Karnataka Congress president B.K. Hariprasad also accused the BJP-led central government of using investigative agencies to intimidate opposition leaders.
The Congress leaders’ comments came after ED officials conducted searches linked to Jarkiholi and members of his family. The agency’s searches are part of an ongoing investigation, and the allegations or material under examination have not by themselves established wrongdoing.
Shettar: ED, CBI are autonomous agencies
BJP MP and former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, responding in Hubballi, rejected the Congress’s political-vendetta allegations.
Shettar said the ED and CBI are autonomous investigative agencies and conduct inquiries based on information available to them.
Karnataka:
“ED raid against Minister Satish Jarkiholi is not politically motivated.”
– BJP MP Jagadish Shettar pic.twitter.com/NzqPqCG9Ss
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) September 9, 2026
He said the action against Jarkiholi should not be immediately described as politically motivated and maintained that investigative agencies were following the legal process.
“Investigative agencies are acting as per their legal process,” Shettar said, arguing that it was inappropriate for the Congress to accuse the agencies of political motives immediately after the searches.
Details awaited from ED
The political sparring is likely to continue until the Enforcement Directorate officially discloses details of the case and the material examined during the searches.
The outcome of the investigation, including whether any further action is initiated against Jarkiholi or others, will depend on the findings of the agency.