The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids at multiple locations in Ballari and Hosapete on Thursday, October 16, in connection with the Belekeri iron ore disappearance case.
Sources said a 10-member ED team from Bengaluru searched the residence of Kuruba Nagaraj, a close associate of former minister and Ballari Rural MLA B. Nagendra, on Talur Road in Ballari. Simultaneously, another team conducted raids on hotelier Srinivas Rao (also known as Seenu Babu) in Hosapete, targeting his Priyadarshini Hotel on Railway Road and his residences in Vinayak Nagar and Basaveshwara Layout. Rao is reportedly involved in iron ore contracts and real estate businesses.
At the time of the search, K. Nagaraj was reported to be in Bengaluru, while his mother, sister, and brother-in-law were present at his home in Ballari. Officials seized several documents during the operation, which are now being examined.
The ED is expected to release an official statement after completing the raids. The Belekeri iron ore case involves allegations of illegal mining and export of iron ore. Several individuals, including MLA Satish Sail, have been named among the 17 accused, along with prominent figures such as Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy, Ballari Rural MLA B. Nagendra, and former minister Anand Singh.