Ex-minister arrested in Valmiki scam likely to be back in Team Siddaramaiah

MYSURU: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah stoked a fresh controversy Tuesday, indicating that former minister B Nagendra , arrested for his alleged role in a Rs 90-crore ST welfare fund scam and released from jail barely a month ago, would be re-inducted into the cabinet after the bypolls. The ex-minister was “a victim of BJP’s agenda” and had no role in any irregularities, the CM claimed.

Speaking at a Valmiki Jayanti event in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah hinted at a cabinet reshuffle after the results of bypolls on Nov 23.

Siddaramaiah stressed the necessity of re-inducting Nagendra into the cabinet, who had resigned as the ST welfare minister on June 6 following allegations of his involvement in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam.

ED had arrested Nagendra on July 12 in the scam involving diversion of funds from the corporation’s bank account to other accounts.

After his release, Nagendra termed his arrest a BJP conspiracy and accused ED of pressuring him to implicate the CM and deputy CM D K Shivakumar in the scam.