Karnataka Guv nod for ED to prosecute ex-Minister B Nagendra in ST Corporation scam
Bengaluru, Apr 9 (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute former minister B Nagendra in connection with the multi-crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
"The Governor granted the ED sanction to prosecute former minister Nagendra on Saturday," official sources said.
A special court here had granted bail to the Congress MLA in October 2024, after he was arrested by the ED in connection with the scam.
Nagendra was arrested in July under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), along with other key accused identified during the investigation.
He had resigned as the Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare in June last year, following allegations of his involvement in the scam.
The ED had earlier said that Nagendra was identified as the primary accused and the mastermind behind the scam, allegedly orchestrating it with the help of 24 others.
According to the agency, under Nagendra’s influence, the Corporation’s account was shifted to the MG Road branch of a bank without proper authorisation. A total of Rs 187 crore—including Rs 43.33 crore from the State Treasury under the ‘Ganga Kalyana Scheme’—was deposited into this account in violation of government procedures and guidelines.
“These funds were subsequently siphoned off through multiple shell accounts and converted into cash and bullion,” the ED alleged.
The investigation also revealed that Rs 20.19 crore of the diverted funds was used to support a candidate contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Bellary constituency, as well as for Nagendra’s personal expenses.
The agency had earlier stated that it filed a prosecution complaint (charge sheet) in the case before a special PMLA court in Bengaluru, which has taken cognisance of it.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
