Bengaluru, 12 September

Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who recently faced ED searches, on Saturday said he is aware of who complained against him to the central agency and has brought it to the notice of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Without sharing the identity of the complainant, and not confirming or denying if the person was from within the ruling Congress, the minister maintained that everyone has the right to make allegations and lodge a complaint.

He also asserted that he will face the inquiry with facts and documents in the days ahead and address the case legally.

"I know who gave the complaint. I knew it earlier. They have given the complaint; there is nothing wrong with giving a complaint; everyone has the right to do so. I have told the CM who has given," Jarkiholi said in response to a question.

Speaking to reporters here, he said everyone is free to make allegations.

When asked about the possibility of the complainant being from the Congress party itself and their actual intention, the minister merely said that the chief minister would look into it.

"I have not said that those who complained are from our party. They may be or may not be. The CM will look into it. I have told him about the person who made the allegations, and look into it. That's all," he said.

Jarkiholi further stated that it cannot be said that the complainant is from the Congress party, adding, "That person has a relationship with the Congress, but the voter party is BJP. So it is a 50:50 case. It is a difficult case to tell anything."

Not willing to reveal the identity of the person behind it, the minister said he had brought it to the notice of the CM and asked him to see what decision could be taken.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has seized Rs 3.45 crore in cash during searches against PWD Minister Jarkiholi, his family members and others in a FEMA investigation related to their alleged undisclosed overseas investments and cross-border business links.

The central agency said in a statement that the September 9-10 searches, conducted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), showed that the Jarkiholi family "acquired" shareholding in multiple foreign entities and indulged in collecting "bribes" from PWD contractors.

Jarkiholi, however, has asserted that he has made no such overseas investments and would fight the case legally.

Asked whether the complainant has political strength, the minister said, "Nothing like that."

To a question about whether things reached this stage due to any political animosity toward him, he said, "I don't know, they have complained, and it has reached this stage now. Now what remains is how we will justify our position and clarity before the ED."

Stating that the ED release only mentions allegations, Jarkiholi said he will go before the agency when called and respond to them.

"These are only allegations. I have options to prove myself. I will place the facts before the ED...let there be an investigation and let the truth come out, after that, the next step will follow," he said.

On Friday, the minister said the Rs 2 crore seized from his home belonged to him and pointed out that he has a business with an annual turnover of about Rs 2,000 crore.

He also claimed there could be "politics" behind the ED searches and said CM Shivakumar had earlier cautioned his cabinet colleagues about potential raids.