ED searches are political vendetta, says M.B. Patil - The HinduPublished - September 11, 2026 08:37 pm IST - BelagaviM.B. Patil | Photo Credit: File Photo“Agencies like the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) are being weaponised for political purposes. The recent search of the houses and offices of Minister Satish Jarkiholi is a clear example of this trend, Minister M.B. Patil said on Friday.“The ED raids on the Bengaluru and Gokak residences of my Cabinet colleague and close associate, Satish Jarkiholi, as well as the homes of his close aides, including his son Rahul and daughter Priyanka, are an act of political vendetta by the Union government. I strongly condemn this,” the Minister said.“The Union government’s attempts to subdue Opposition leaders by weaponising agencies like the ED, IT, and CBI will never succeed. We refuse to bow down to intimidation, conspiracy, or the abuse of power. Our struggle to protect democracy will continue. We stand firmly with Satish Jarkiholi. The voice of the Congress can not be silenced by such conspiracies,’’ he said in a release.Published - September 11, 2026 08:37 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }