Former minister Nagendra, arrested in Valmiki Corpn scam case, walks out of jail

BENGALURU: Former minister B Nagendra, who was arrested in the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Caste Development Corporation scam case, was released from Parappana Agrahara central jail on Wednesday.

After being released on bail, in his first reaction to the media, he said, “I saw on television that they tried to destabilize the state government through me. They forced me to take Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar’s names, putting a lot of pressure on me. This is a BJP conspiracy”.

“The BJP-JDS conducted a padayatra just to burn belly fat”, he replied when asked about the padayatra.

Nagendra alleged that they were forced him to mention CM Siddaramaiah’s name in financial matters. “The ED took up the case without written orders, despite the code of conduct being in place. Neither I nor the Chief Minister know about the bank scandal. We didn’t recommend any ED probe, but they’ve still filed the case. This is the BJP’s conspiracy against the Congress government. Thanks to the court, I am out on bail”, he said.

Nagendra further said, “The SIT had cleared me saying that I had no role in the scam. The judicial system is not in anyone’s hands. The SIT probe is under way. They (BJP) targetted me for being a minister. It is up to the high command to make me a minister again. A drive to eliminate the BJP will start from Karnataka”, he remarked.

Regarding by-polls in Karnataka, “In the by-elections, we will ensure the Congress wins in the three constituencies, especially in Ballari constituency. We will show our courage in the by-elections.”

Many supporters, friends of Nangendra had gathered near the jail from the morning. They celebrated as he came out of jail and felicitated him.