Bengaluru, 12 September (HS): Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has dismissed the Enforcement Directorate's allegations against Minister Satish Jarkiholi as politically motivated, saying the agency's press release failed to disclose any specific evidence of wrongdoing.

Kharge said the ED had merely claimed that evidence was found during its investigation without explaining its nature. He urged the agency to establish the alleged money trail and make the relevant documents public instead of circulating unsubstantiated claims.

Questioning the agency's effectiveness, Kharge said he had previously cited figures showing that the ED conducted 196 raids but secured convictions in only two cases. He asked whether the agency had issued similar press releases after every raid and why its conviction rate remained so low.

Kharge also accused central agencies of selectively targeting Congress leaders. He referred to allegations made by BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal against state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra and asked whether the ED or Income Tax Department had initiated any investigation into them.

Responding to allegations that bribes were collected for awarding Public Works Department contracts, Kharge said the ED should produce documentary evidence showing that money had been received and subsequently used for illegal purposes.

He also challenged BJP legislators and former ministers to submit their passports for scrutiny if travel records were relevant to the investigation. The Minister alleged that raids and investigations had become part of an established strategy to intimidate political opponents.

Kharge further accused the BJP of mentally harassing the Chief Minister and his family through allegations that failed to stand up in court. He asked whether the BJP or the Union government had apologised after those accusations collapsed.

Taking a sarcastic swipe at the BJP, Kharge said politicians facing corruption allegations were treated as absolved of all wrongdoing once they joined the party. He described the allegations against him and other Congress leaders as part of the BJP's 'hit-and-run' politics aimed at diverting attention from corruption, unemployment and failures in education.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman