MoS Karandlaje urges Amit Shah to initiate detailed probe into Valmiki corporation scam
Bengaluru, Jul 11: Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct central agencies to thoroughly investigate the illegal transfer of funds from the state-owned Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
Karandlaje also highlighted the death by suicide of the Accounts Superintendent of the corporation, Chandrasekharan P, which brought the scam to light.
In his suicide note, Chandrasekharan alleged that a sum of Rs 187 crore belonging to the corporation was illegally transferred. This includes Rs 88.62 crore moved to various accounts of some IT companies and a Hyderabad-based cooperative bank, according to official sources.
Karandlaje, who is an MP from Karnataka's Lok Sabha constituency of Bangalore North, noted that Chandrasekharan’s suicide may be linked to the intense pressures and potential threats he faced in relation to the scam.
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“The loss of Mr Chandrashekaran is a grievous blow, and his death underscores the urgent need for a transparent and thorough investigation into the factors leading to his untimely demise,” she said in a letter to Shah.
The minister also said there were serious allegations implicating Union Bank in facilitating or overlooking the financial irregularities associated with the Valmiki Corporation.
“It is imperative to scrutinise the role of the bank in managing and processing the funds that were allegedly misappropriated.”
“A formal complaint has already been lodged with the CBI and this investigation must be pursued with the utmost diligence and integrity,” Karandlaje said in her letter.
She requested Shah for “a comprehensive investigation by the relevant authorities into the Valmiki Development Corporation scam, ensuring that all individuals and entities involved are held accountable”.
Karandale asked the Home minister to facilitate a thorough and independent inquiry by the CBI into the role of Union Bank and other financial institutions implicated in the scam.
“I request you to ensure justice and provide support for the family of Chandrasekharan, acknowledging the distressing circumstances that led to his tragic suicide and strengthen oversight mechanisms to prevent such malfeasance in the future, ensuring robust monitoring of funds allocated for developmental projects,” the minister said in her letter.
Following the suicide, Congress MLA B Nagendra resigned as the Tribal Welfare Minister.
The government formed a Special Investigation Team which questioned Nagendra and Corporation chairperson Basanagouda Daddal on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, central agency Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday raided several locations in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana allegedly linked to Nagendra and Daddal. The searches continued on Thursday as well.
The SIT has so far arrested 12 people in connection with the case, including the managing director and accountant of the Valmiki Corporation.
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PM Modi meets Dutch royals in Netherlands, discusses cooperation in technology, innovation
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday - after a brief stopover in the UAE - on the second leg of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
"Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Modi said that India and the Netherlands are "connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet."
"They discussed the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
"Both sides noted the close cooperation in the areas of sustainability, climate action, digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy," he added.
The two sides also expressed commitment towards further strengthening India–Netherlands relations.
Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague where he called India a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”.
The PM's visit to the European nation from May 15 to 17 is his second trip to the country after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials described as an "important juncture" in India-Netherlands ties.
India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.
The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to USD 55.6 billion, officials said.
People-to-people ties remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
Later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
