ED Arrests Karnataka Congress MLA Sail In Iron Ore Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Karnataka Congress MLA Satish Krishna Sail on Wednesday in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to illegal iron ore exports. The 59-year-old legislator, representing the Karwar assembly seat in Uttara Kannada district, was taken into custody during the night of September 9-10 following extensive questioning at the ED's Bengaluru zonal office. This development marks another high-profile action by the agency against political figures in the state, amid ongoing investigations into financial irregularities.

Sail was produced before a special court, which granted the ED one-day custody, and he is scheduled to appear again on Wednesday for the agency to seek his remand. The case centers on accusations that a company associated with Sail was involved in the illicit export of iron ore, potentially leading to money laundering. The ED had previously conducted searches related to this matter on August 13-14 across locations including Karwar, Goa, Mumbai, and Delhi, uncovering evidence that prompted the arrest.

This arrest makes Sail the second Congress MLA from Karnataka to be detained by the ED in recent weeks, following the apprehension of Chitradurga MLA K C Veerendra 'Puppy' last month in a separate case involving alleged illegal betting and money laundering. The series of arrests highlights the agency's intensified scrutiny of politicians amid a broader crackdown on financial crimes in the state, raising questions about governance and accountability.

Also Read: Aadhaar Now Counts as Voter ID in Bihar Elections

As the investigation progresses, the outcome could have significant implications for Karnataka's political landscape, potentially affecting the Congress party's standing and prompting further probes. Authorities are expected to delve deeper into the financial networks involved, with Sail's court appearance likely to reveal more about the ED's next steps in this high-stakes case.

Also Read: Trump Urges EU to Impose 100% Tariffs on India, China