ED Detains Former Karnataka Minister's Wife Amid Scam Investigation

The Directorate of Enforcement has detained Manjula, wife of former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra, amid an ongoing investigation into the Valmiki Corporation Scam. Nagendra remains in judicial custody, while protests and political accusations escalate. The case surfaced following a suicide linked to alleged multi-crore corruption within the corporation.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has taken into custody Manjula, wife of former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra. She was brought to the ED's regional office in Bengaluru as part of a probe into the Valmiki Corporation Scam, which has already led to Nagendra's judicial custody until July 18.

Earlier, the ED arrested Nagendra in connection with the alleged multi-crore scam, presenting him before a Bengaluru court. The arrest followed raids on several properties linked to Nagendra and MLA Basanagouda Daddal, tied to the alleged embezzlement of funds in the Valmiki Development Corporation.

The BJP has ramped up demonstrations, accusing the state government of significant corruption within the corporation. The state government rebuffed these claims, attributing them to the BJP's tenure. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar stated, "There is no scam. All scams are from the BJP's era. We are working to clean up, which they can't accept."

The controversy emerged after Chandrasekaran, a Corporation official, died by suicide on May 26, alleging multi-crore corruption in a note. As a superintendent at the MVDC's Bengaluru office, he named three officials and demanded action.

On June 6, Nagendra voluntarily resigned, claiming he would be exonerated after the investigation. He has denied all allegations of involvement in the scam.