Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Defends Former Minister Nagendra’s Re-induction After Scam
Mysuru, 13th November 2024: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sparked a new controversy on Tuesday by suggesting that former minister B Nagendra, who was arrested in connection with a Rs 90-crore scam involving the Scheduled Tribes welfare fund and released from jail just a month ago, would be re-inducted into the cabinet after the upcoming byelection results. Siddaramaiah defended Nagendra, claiming he was a victim of the BJP’s agenda and denied his involvement in any irregularities.
Speaking at a Valmiki Jayanti event in HD Kote, Siddaramaiah hinted at a cabinet reshuffle following the November 23 results of the Channapatna, Sandur, and Shiggaon by-polls. His comments were made in response to a request on the dais for a ministerial post for local MLA Anil Kumar C, also from the Scheduled Tribes community. However, the CM emphasized that Nagendra should be re-inducted into the cabinet, asserting that he had been unfairly targeted by the BJP.
Earlier, Nagendra had stated that the decision regarding his re-entry into the cabinet would be made by the CM, Deputy CM, and Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge. Nagendra, who resigned on June 6 amid accusations of involvement in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 12. The scam allegedly involved the diversion of funds from the corporation’s accounts, which were used to finance the Ballari Lok Sabha election campaign.
After his release in mid-October, Nagendra claimed the incident was part of a BJP conspiracy and accused the ED of pressuring him to implicate Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. He denied any role in the alleged scam, asserting that the ED, which called him the “mastermind,” had harassed him for three months without evidence of his involvement. Nagendra alleged that the agency was under pressure from BJP leaders to destabilize the government through him.
The scam surfaced after an official from the corporation, fearing punishment, took his own life. The CM’s office later confirmed that Rs 76.5 crore of the misappropriated funds had been recovered, although about Rs 13 crore remains unaccounted for. Nagendra, however, maintained that the irregularities occurred at the bank level, and the state government had no involvement.
