Bengaluru: Minister for ST Welfare, Sports, and Youth Affairs, B Nagendra, has resigned from his position following allegations of involvement in a multi-crore scam in Valmiki Corporation.
The controversy emerged after a government official died by suicide, leaving behind a five-page note that implicated his superiors and a “minister” who allegedly oraly instructed him to transfer Rs 90 crore—part of the Rs 187 crore allocated for ST welfare—to multiple bank accounts.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar convened a meeting after the news broke about the CBI filing an FIR based on a complaint from the Union Bank. The CM and Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, reportedly summoned Nagendra to discuss the situation and requested his resignation. Nagendra agreed to step down after receiving assurances from both leaders that he would be reinstated if exonerated.
After submitting his resignation, B Nagendra refrained from speaking to the media but has scheduled a press conference for the evening, where he is expected to address the issue.