Valmiki scam: Bengaluru cops file FIR against 2 ED officials for pressuring officer to implicate CM Siddaramaiah

A case was filed against two ED officials for allegedly pressuring a state officer to implicate Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Valmiki scam case.

Published on: Jul 23, 2024, 14:56:10 IST

By Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

In a startling new development in the ₹187 crore scam involving the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation, two Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials are facing accusations of misconduct.

A case was registered on Monday at the Wilson Garden Police Station following a complaint from Kallesh B, Additional Director of the Social Welfare Department. The complaint alleges that the ED officers attempted to coerce Kallesh into falsely implicating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Finance Department.

WATCH | Part of Bengaluru football stadium stand collapses during match, injuring six

The complaint targets ED officials Murali Kannan and a person identified only as Mittal, accusing them of "joint criminal liability with a common intention," "criminal intimidation," and an effort to "provoke a breach of peace."

Kallesh alleges that during an interrogation on July 16, Kannan interrogated him with 17 questions and then sought to coerce him into framing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former minister B Nagendra, and the Finance Department. According to Kallesh, Mittal also threatened to accuse him in the case unless he agreed to accuse high-ranking officials including the Chief Minister, former minister B Nagendra, and the Finance Department.

READ | Bengaluru police commissioner warns staff to not post unrelated reels on Instagram while on duty

This new twist comes amidst ongoing investigations into the alleged embezzlement of ₹187 crore, which includes the illegal transfer of ₹88 crore to Hyderabad-based firms. Both the Special Investigation Team formed by the Karnataka government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are working on the case.

READ | Mangaluru International Airport sees 21 per cent rise in passenger traffic

The CBI has enlisted the ED for further investigation, leading to raids at the residences of former minister B Nagendra and Valmiki Corporation chairperson and MLA Basanagouda Daddal. The ED has also arrested Nagendra, who is currently in judicial custody.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated Bengaluru Weather Live and with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Bengaluru. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and more across India . Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.