Belagavi, 13 September

PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Sunday said that he had never “challenged” the Enforcement Directorate to prove the allegations of money laundering. 

In a video message on his X, Jarkiholi said that he was misquoted by several media organisations. 

“Some newspapers have reported that I have thrown a challenge to the ED to prove my overseas investment,” he said. “I have not challenged ED or any other agency. I have not used that word anywhere.”

“I have held three press conferences about the searches and said that we are cooperating with the ED,” he added. But some media outlets are reporting it in their own style and this can be used against us.”

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has seized Rs 3.45 crore in cash during searches against Jarkiholi, his family members and others in a FEMA investigation related to undisclosed overseas investments.  The ED said that the raids on 9-10 September showed that the Jarkiholi family "acquired" shareholding in multiple foreign entities and indulged in collecting "bribes" from PWD contractors.

Jarkiholi has also said that he knows who complained to the central agency, and neither confirmed nor denied if they were from the Congress.