Former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra Detained in Valmiki Development Corporation Scam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra on Friday in connection with the Valmiki Development Corporation scam. This action followed ED raids on Wednesday at various locations linked to Nagendra and MLA Basanagouda Daddal.
On June 6, Nagendra announced his voluntary resignation amid ongoing investigations into allegations of illegal money transfers from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd. He denied all allegations and expressed confidence in being cleared after the investigation.
Union Minister and BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of involvement in the scam and demanded his resignation. She stated, “On July 3, I wrote to the Union Home Minister and demanded a CBI probe into this. When the CBI probe is going on, the Karnataka government formed an SIT to hide this scam. Now the SIT is not helping the CBI, but the probe is going on and the ED conducted raids. At various places, searches are being conducted in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Bellary. The Karnataka CM is involved in this so we demand the resignation of Siddaramaiah. He should resign and face the probe then only justice will be delivered.”
She further added, “Siddaramaiah is the Finance Minister. Without his instructions, no one will have the courage to transfer Rs 187 crores from bank to companies.”
Karnataka Deputy CM commented on the ED raids, stating that there was no need for them as the SIT had already conducted an investigation and recovered the money. He mentioned that the CBI had already filed an FIR and had the provisions to take up the investigation, unlike the ED.
The corruption case came to light after an official of the Corporation, Chandrasekaran, died by suicide on May 26, leaving a note alleging multi-crore corruption. Chandrasekaran, a superintendent with the MVDC, named three officials in his six-page suicide note and demanded action against them.