‘No question of protecting anyone; legal action to be taken’ CM Siddaramaiah on death of Valmiki corporation official

BENGALURU : Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that no one will be protected in the Maharishi Valmiki Corporation employee’s death case adding that legal action will be taken against all those who are found guilty.

“There is no question of protecting anyone in the Valmiki Corporation case. Legal action will be taken against all of them who are found guilty in the investigation. A SIT has been constituted in connection with the case of Valmiki Corporation and the investigation is going on fast. There is no question of protecting the guilty,” he said.

The chief minister, who appeared in the court in connection with a private complaint filed by the BJP, responded that this is a civil case.

“Today I appeared before the judge as legal guardian instructed by the court. I got the bail. A private complaint was filed against me, KPCC president and Rahul Gandhi too. Rahul Gandhi will also appear in the court,” he said.

Earlier, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government on Friday issued an order for handing over the corruption case of Valmiki Corporation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Bengaluru: After appearing before the court in a defamation case filed by BJP, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says, “I appeared before the judge as legal guardian. I have got bail. A private complaint was filed against me, KPCC president DK Shivakumar and Rahul Gandhi too. Rahul… pic.twitter.com/geiLgnhSh1

— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2024

The corruption case of Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation came to light after an official of the Corporation died by suicide and left a note alleging multi-crore corruption in the corporation.

The official identified as Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony in Vinobanagar, allegedly died by suicide on May 26. Chandrasekaran was a superintendent with the MVDC and was posted at its Bengaluru office.

In a six-page suicide note recovered by police, Chandrasekaran mentioned the names of three officials and alleged corruption worth crores in the corporation, demanding action against the named officials.

A case has been registered in this regard at the Vinobanagar police station. On Wednesday, a team from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police inspected Chandrasekaran’s residence. The team found the deceased official’s bag, which included a pen drive and laptop, among other items.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Basanagouda R Patil Yatnal has demanded a CBI enquiry in the case alleging that this was nothing short of organized loot by Siddaramaiah and his ministers to fund their election campaigns.

“I demand a CBI inquiry into this incident and the suicide of Chandrashekaran. The Lokayukta Police should immediately register an FIR against Siddaramaiah and Minister Nagendra under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Lokayukta Police must act independently and not as agents of the Congress government,” he said. (ANI)