BJP Karnataka Chief Demands CM Siddaramaiah's Resignation Over Rs 187 Crore Scam

BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra has called for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation over an alleged Rs 187 crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. The scam, which resulted in the suicide of Accounts Superintendent Chandrasekharan P, is under investigation by SIT and CBI.

BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra on Saturday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over an alleged Rs 187 crore scam within a government-owned corporation.

Vijayendra claimed that such scams could happen only with an incompetent Chief Minister or with his verbal consent. He highlighted the embezzlement of Rs 187 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, saying that not only did the scamsters misuse taxpayer money, but they also splurged it during the Lok Sabha election in Ballari. The Enforcement Directorate revealed that the funds were also used in other states. Vijayendra questioned whether the officials alone should be held accountable.

''You should resign in connection with this scam as you hold the Finance portfolio. It is unlikely that the Finance Department did not know about the transfer of money from its accounts to various accounts of individuals,'' Vijayendra told reporters.

He continued, ''You (Siddaramaiah) said that you will investigate the scams of the BJP government. Who is stopping you? But you should answer our questions first.'' The scam came to light after Accounts Superintendent Chandrasekharan P took his own life on May 26, leaving behind a note alleging illegal transfers of Rs 187 crore. The Congress government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has so far arrested 11 people in connection with the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also probing the case following a complaint from the Union Bank of India. Nagendra, who resigned after the scam was exposed, is now in Enforcement Directorate custody.

(With inputs from agencies.)