Bengaluru, Sep 12 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Saturday demanded the immediate removal of Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi from the state Cabinet, citing allegations made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding alleged bribe payments, overseas investments and mining assets.
Reacting to the ED’s recent searches at premises linked to Jarkiholi and his associates, Ashoka alleged that money collected through PWD contracts had been routed abroad and used to acquire overseas mining assets.
“The ED’s press brief has put Rahul Gandhi’s ‘ATM Sarkara’ in Karnataka under a massive cloud of suspicion,” Ashoka said in a statement.
Ashoka alleged that the ED had found evidence suggesting that money allegedly collected from contractors, including Bharat Vanijya Eastern Pvt Ltd, was routed through unauthorised channels to acquire assets overseas.
He also pointed to the ED’s allegation that Jarkiholi had acquired a nearly 40 per cent stake in Magnitude Star SARL, a gold-mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ashoka further referred to the ED’s claims regarding overseas mining interests in Eldorado Mining Resources in Congo and Nava Aurum Mining Ltd in Zambia, allegedly held in the names of Jarkiholi’s daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, his son Rahul Jarkiholi and sister Mahadevi Manjunath.
The BJP leader also highlighted the ED’s reported seizure of more than Rs 3.3 crore in unaccounted Indian currency and foreign currency valued at around Rs 15 lakh during searches at 21 premises linked to Jarkiholi and his associates.
“From PWD contracts in Karnataka to gold mines in Africa, the trail alleged by the ED raises serious questions,” Ashoka said.
He demanded that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar provide answers regarding the alleged flow of money, including its source, those who allegedly collected it, how it was moved abroad, and who ultimately benefited from the transactions.
Ashoka also targeted the Congress leadership, alleging that Karnataka was being treated as an “ATM” for the Congress high command, state ministers and their families.
He demanded the immediate removal of Jarkiholi from the state Cabinet until the ED investigation was completed, arguing that a minister facing such serious allegations should not continue in office while the probe was underway.
“Karnataka’s public money cannot become anyone’s private fortune abroad,” Ashoka said.
The ED had earlier stated that it conducted searches at 21 premises linked to Jarkiholi and his close associates in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Gokak and Kolkata on September 9 and 10 under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The agency has alleged that its searches uncovered evidence relating to suspected financial irregularities, overseas investments and alleged bribe payments linked to PWD contracts.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar alleged that the ED action was politically motivated and aimed at targeting Jarkiholi, whom he described as an influential Dalit leader.
–IANS
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