Dr.Thomas (Sub-Editor)
K
arnataka’s Scheduled Tribes Welfare,Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister B.Nagendra on Thursday tendered his resignation,amid allegations of the illegal transfer of money from the State-run Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited.
The four-time MLA from Ballari Rural constituency is the first Minister to quit in the State government led by Siddaramaiah.The government came to power a year ago.
Mr.Nagendra announced his resignation at a press conference at the State Secretariat.I am resigning as per my conscience,and to ensure an impartial probe into the financial irregularities in the corporation as reported in the media for the last 10 days,”he said.
Meanwhile the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam on tuesday arrested the chairman of a cooperative society from his home town in Telangana.
According to officials,the accused identified as Satyanarayana,the chairman of a Credit Co-Operative Society Limited,was arrested and taken into custody for further investigation.
Probe by SIT so far revealed that the crores of rupees of funds has been transferred illegally to the accused co-operative society on the behest of the accused involved .
Earlier SIT arrested former managing director J.B. Padmanabha and accountant Parushurama G.for allegedly misappropriating funds.
The SIT officials conducted a spot mahazar at the officer where the two accused were working and verified the documents related to the irregularities .
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The scam came to light after accounts superintendent Chandrashekhar ended his life on May 26 at his residence in Shivamogga and left behind a death note blaming the officials .
It was alleged that crores of rupees of funds meant for the corporation was transferred through a corporation branch account on MG road to in March based on the oral instructions allegedly issued by the minister who is now under the scanner .
The fund was transferred to many private companies and co-operative bank belonging to Satyanarayana.
