Shobha Karandlaje alleges CM’s involvement in Valmiki Corporation scam, demands resignation

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shobha Karandlaje, has alleged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s involvement in the Maharashi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam and demanded his resignation.

Shobha Karandlaje said, “On July 3, I wrote to the Union Home Minister and demanded a CBI probe into this. When the CBI probe is going on, the Karnataka government formed an SIT to hide this scam. Now, the SIT is not helping the CBI, but the probe is going on and the ED conducted raids. At various places, searches are being conducted in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ballari. The Karnataka CM is involved in this so we demand the resignation of Siddaramaiah. He should resign and face the probe then only justice will be delivered”.

She alleged that along with former Karnataka minister B Nagendra, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was also involved in the case. “Siddaramaiah is the Finance Minister. Without his instructions, no one will have the courage to transfer Rs 187 crore from a bank to different companies”. She further alleged that the amount involved in the scam was used to fund the Telangana elections.

She further said, “The Valmiki Development Corporation was set up to help the people of backward classes. Here, a scam of Rs 187 crore has taken place. One officer wrote a letter and died by suicide, that’s when the scam came out. The officer was forced to transfer money to different companies. He transferred the money, got scared and committed suicide. This Rs 187 crore was used in the Telangana election, this is our allegation”.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Wednesday morning raided the houses of former Karnataka minister B Nagendra and Congress MLA Basanagouda Daddal in connection with the alleged Valmiki Development Corporation scam. (ANI)