Overview
- The Enforcement Directorate conducted coordinated searches on Wednesday that covered about 18 premises in Belagavi, Bengaluru and Mysuru and resulted in seizure of documents and electronic records.
- The agency has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after taking cognisance of a Lokayukta police FIR as the basis for the probe.
- Investigators focused on properties tied to Dr. Y. Manjunath, an excise department additional commissioner, and on a Mysuru house belonging to retired inspector Yamuna while Manjunath was reported absent from searched residences.
- CRPF personnel provided security during the raids because officials said they did not seek local police help over concerns about political influence connected to Manjunath’s family ties to the Jarkiholi political family.
- The probe, intensified after earlier searches of associates’ premises yielded documents, now includes bank verifications and forensic analysis and could lead to PMLA actions such as asset attachment if evidence of benami holdings or proceeds of crime is found.