CBI seeks governor’s nod to prosecute Karnataka minister B Nagendra in ST Corporation scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction to prosecute Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra in connection with the alleged Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation scam, according to multiple reports. The CBI is believed to have written to the governor about a week ago, furnishing details of the case and seeking permission to interrogate and prosecute Nagendra, a report in The Times of India said. The governor has sought legal and constitutional experts’ views and is expected to take a decision soon, the report added.
The scam involves an alleged siphonoff of Rs 90 crore, of which Rs 84 crore has been recovered by the state government in various forms, The New Indian Express reported. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has already investigated the matter and filed a chargesheet, according to The Times of India. Nagendra was arrested by the ED in July 2024 and granted bail by a special court in Bengaluru that October; both the ED and the CBI have named him in their chargesheets, The Times of India reported.
Opposition protests and political reactions
The combined BJP-JD(S) opposition disrupted legislature proceedings for five straight days last week, demanding Nagendra’s resignation, and has planned to intensify protests when the session resumes Monday, including a siege of Vidhana Soudha, according to The New Indian Express. Opposition Leader R Ashoka of the BJP said the Lokayukta had also sought sanction for prosecution against BJP leaders Gali Janardhana Reddy and M P Renukacharya in a disproportionate assets case, and claimed that three chargesheets against Nagendra are pending with the governor. Ashoka alleged the government would not grant sanction for Nagendra but would clear the decks for the two BJP leaders, The New Indian Express reported.
Lok Bhavan sources confirmed that the matters in the three cases were being referred to the Law Department for its opinion, The New Indian Express reported. “Considering that the Governor has to seek the aid and advice of the government, the matter is being consulted with the law department but no decision has been taken till date,” a Lok Bhavan official said.
Priyank Kharge’s response
State home minister Priyank Kharge said Saturday he had little information about the CBI’s approach to the governor and insisted the central agency must first write to the state government before taking any such step, The Times of India reported. He noted that the CBI had earlier written to then chief secretary Rajneesh Goel about supplying investigating staff, and referred to a state law requiring the CBI to seek the government’s permission or opinion before pursuing any probe or prosecution in Karnataka. “If we have to provide the investigation officers, that means we are doing the investigation,” he said.
Kharge also brushed aside the opposition’s planned march from Raichur to Ballari, asking, “Now they are speaking about a Raichur to Ballari march. Let them do it. But, what is the cause of their march?” He hit back citing BJP MLA Chandu Lamani, who was caught by the Lokayukta.
Background
Nagendra, who had quit the earlier Siddaramaiah cabinet over the same allegations in June 2024, was brought back into the DK Shivakumar-led ministry on August 3 as minister for planning and statistics, The Times of India reported. This is his second stint as a minister in the Congress government sworn into office in 2023, according to The New Indian Express. In August 2024, the governor granted sanction to prosecute then chief minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA sites scam, and the high court upheld it, The Times of India reported.
CM’s political advisor AS Ponnanna said sanction under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act is mandatory for a court to take cognisance of an offence against a public servant. “Perhaps, the CBI has sought sanction from the governor as he is the competent authority. Therefore, there is nothing surprising,” he said, according to The Times of India.