Karnataka Minister Resigns Amid Corruption Scandal Pressure

Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced that Minister B Nagendra has offered to resign after being implicated in an illegal money transfer case. The resignation follows pressure from the BJP and an ongoing CBI investigation. The state government is also considering an inquiry into the involvement of various state departments.

In a significant development, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar revealed that Minister B Nagendra has offered his resignation following allegations in an illegal money transfer case. The announcement comes at a time of mounting pressure from the opposition BJP, which staged a protest from 'Vidhana Soudha' to Raj Bhavan, demanding Nagendra’s resignation citing a 'big corruption scam'.

Shivakumar stated, 'There is no need for anyone demanding (resignation), we -- myself, Chief Minister and Home Minister -- have discussed with the Minister (Nagendra). The Minister has assured that he is not involved in anything, but in the interest of the party and the government, he doesn't want to embarrass the party, he himself has offered to resign from the Ministership. I think today he will do that job (resign).' The final decision, however, is contingent upon discussions with the Congress high command.

The scandal involves the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, where fraudulent transfers totaling Rs 187 crore were unearthed following the suicide of accounts superintendent Chandrashekhar P. The case has now prompted both state and CBI investigations, with calls for further accountability reaching up to the Chief Minister. A delegation of BJP leaders also petitioned Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to seek the Chief Minister's resignation.