The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has accused former Karnataka tribal minister B. Nagendra of using over ₹14 crore from alleged cash siphoned in the Valmiki scam to bribe voters in the Bellary Lok Sabha elections this year. According to the ED’s charge sheet, more than seven lakh voters were given ₹200 each to vote for the Congress candidate. The funds allegedly came from money diverted from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation (KMVSTDC), which was intended for welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribe communities.
Nagendra, 53, was recently granted bail by a special court in Bengaluru. The ED’s investigation began following the suspicious death of Chandrasekharan P., the accounts superintendent of the Valmiki Corporation, who left a suicide note alleging illegal money transfers. The agency’s findings suggest that Nagendra utilized government funds for personal expenses, including travel and household staff salaries.
In addition to Nagendra, 24 others are implicated, including aides and companies linked to him. The case revolves around accusations that substantial sums from the Valmiki Corporation were transferred to fake accounts and laundered through shell entities. The agency claims Nagendra handled a significant portion of the proceeds in cash, which was distributed to incentivize voters for the 2024 elections.
The ED has detailed that each polling booth received ₹10,000 for party workers assisting voters, with corroborative evidence indicating the distribution of funds to ensure voter compliance. When confronted with evidence, including images of cash found on his personal assistant’s phone, Nagendra reportedly evaded direct answers.
The investigation has revealed that over ₹187.33 crore meant for welfare schemes was fraudulently siphoned off from the Valmiki Corporation’s accounts between March and May 2024. The ED maintains that Nagendra was actively involved in orchestrating this complex money laundering scheme, with attempts to destroy evidence during the investigation further implicating him.
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