Illegal money transfer case: Sack Minister Nagendra, handover probe to CBI, says K'taka BJP chief
Shivamogga/Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Thursday demanded the sacking of Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra and asked the state government to hand over the case of an alleged illegal money transfer from a Corporation bank to the CBI for a probe.
The unauthorised transfer of Rs 88.62 crore from the Corporation’s bank account came to light after accounts superintendent at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, Chandrashekhar P, died by suicide on Sunday evening, leaving behind a death note.
He has named Corporation's managing director J G Padmanabh, accounts officer Parashuram G Durugannavar and Union Bank of India chief manager Suchismita Rawal in the note, while also stating that the minister in charge had issued oral orders for transferring the funds.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the deceased officer's house in Shivamogga, Vijayendra said that suspending two or three officials in connection with the case was not enough and the minister's resignation was needed without any delay.
ALSO READ: Karnataka govt suspends two officials of Valmiki Corporation in illegal money transfer case
Demanding that the case be investigated by the CBI, he gave a deadline of one week's time to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the state government and warned state wide agitation if the demand was not met.
"It is impossible for CID or local authorities to investigate the case impartially. Officials have taken the pen drive and laptop from the house of the deceased," he said.
Vijayendra further alleged that during the Lok Sabha elections, hundreds of crores were transferred to Telangana through a 'fake' bank account and said there is a 'big conspiracy' behind this.
The deceased's wife is working on a contract basis and has two sons. It is difficult for her to manage the family, he said, and urged the state government to announce a compensation of at least Rs 25 lakh to the family.
BJP's ST Morcha on Thursday tried to lay siege to the CM's residence in Bengaluru demanding the resignation of Nagendra. The protesters were stopped and later detained by the police.
Noting that in the death note, officer Chandrasekhar, mentioned the phone calls and pressure from the office of the concerned minister, Vijayendra alleged, "There is no possibility that the officials have transferred such a large amount (to a account) in Telangana without the permission of Minister Nagendra."
On Wednesday, the state government suspended the managing director and an official of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd over allegations of an illegal money transfer.
Two FIRs have been registered following Chandrashekar’s suicide. The first was against the three people named in his note, and the second was registered against six bank officials for the alleged fraud.
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
