NEW DELHI: With the arrest of Aam Aadmi MP Sanjay Singh in the liquor policy case, the Enforcement Directorate is extending its power tentacles to more leaders in the opposition INDIA alliance. IB is also following suit circling many opposition leaders. The central agency conducted sudden raids on opposition-ruled states including West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. As of now, the raid is continuing albeit in the late-night hours on Thursday.

The opposition countered BJP's move to employ central agencies as a puerile one done out in fear of losing the Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, BJP hit back saying the government was just eradicating the corrupt from the system.

In Karnataka, the ED raided the district cooperative bank in Shivamogga for the fake gold fraud case. The house and farmhouse of Congress leader and bank chairman Manjunath Gowda were searched. Gowda is a close confidante of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Cooperative Division Coordinator and DCC Bank Chairman since 1997, Gowda was earlier arrested in 2014 for allowing loan in a fake gold case.

In West Bengal, ED conducted raid at West Bengal Food Minister Ratin Ghosh's residence and at various places in North 24 Parganas district. Ghosh is the former chairman of Madhyagram Municipality. According to the case, Ghosh appointed ineligible people into the municipality taking huge bribes.

In Telangana, Income Tax officials conducted inspections at the residences and offices of BRS leader and Jubilee Hills MLA Maganti Gopinath in Hyderabad. In Chennai, ED inspected almost 40 places linked with DMK MP Jagath Rakshakan. The team arrived in more than 50 vehicles and conducted the raid with the help of 150 armed personnel. Inspections were conducted at Pallikaranai Sri Balaji Dental College, Kuthambakkam Savita University, and MP offices at T Nagar and Velachery. Arakkonam MP Jagath Rakshakan has huge investments in the health, education, and hospitality sectors.