ED raids in Valmiki Corporation case unwarranted, says Deputy CM Shivakumar

Tumakuru (Karnataka) [India], July 11 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that Enforcement Directorate raids in the Valmiki Development Corporation case were unwarranted.
The development comes after ED conducted raids at many places on Wednesday allegedly linked to former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra and MLA Basanagouda Daddal in connection with the embezzlement of funds in Valmiki Development Corporation.
Speaking to reporters at the Nonavinakere Kadasiddeshwara mutt in the district, he said, "The SIT set up by the state government is already investigating the case; there was no need for ED raids in the case."
He said that there was no need for ED to conduct raids at several places, including the residence of former minister Nagendra.
Shivakumar further said, "It involves a huge amount of money and hence banks have the authority to investigate the case. ED has come in even though there was no need for it to investigate."
Replying to a query on why the ED investigation is taking place when the SIT was already formed, he said, "Nagendra is not at fault. I am confident that he will come out clean after the investigations. The perpetrators of this case must be brought to book. There were similar cases during the previous BJP government."
He further said that investigations revealed that there was no involvement of Nagendra and Valmiki Board Chairman Daddal in the case.
He said, "I don't know the details of the raids. The SIT had issued a notice to Nagendra and Daddal in the case and the investigations so far have revealed that there is no involvement of the minister and the MLA."
On his visit to Nonavinakere Mutt, he said that he had been coming here for a long time.
He said, "It is my faith and belief. I haven't gone to Handanakere Mutt, but I have got a road done to the Siddeshwara temple. I had gone there to check the objections raised by the Forest Department."
Speaking about the Channapatna by-polls, he said that he was the ideal candidate.
He quipped, "Whoever contests from Channapatna, I am the candidate." (ANI)