Chikkaballapur, 11 June 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said his government will neither support any violation of the law nor obstruct its enforcement, following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on a Congress MP and three MLAs in the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam.

The ED carried out searches at eight locations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including five in Ballari and three in Bengaluru. Premises linked to Congress Ballari MP E Tukaram and MLAs Nara Bharath Reddy (Ballari City), JN Ganesh (Kampli), and NT Srinivas (Kudligi) were searched.

"What should I do? The ED has conducted raids. Let them do whatever they want in accordance with the law," said Siddaramaiah, responding to media questions.

The ED is investigating allegations that funds siphoned from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC) were used for election expenses during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. According to a chargesheet filed last year, personal assistants of then minister B Nagendra admitted to handling large amounts of money, which were allegedly distributed to voters and party workers.

The ED claimed Rs 200 was given to each of the 7.4 lakh voters in Ballari, totalling over Rs 14 crore, along with Rs 10,000 per polling booth to party workers, amounting to Rs 72 lakh. The three MLAs allegedly ensured cash distribution in their constituencies, the agency said.

The scam reportedly saw over Rs 187 crore siphoned from funds meant for welfare schemes between March and May 2023. The ED said it uncovered a complex money laundering network within the corporation, with cash handed over under the direct instructions of Nagendra.

The ED is targeting Congress MLAs and MPs. The main goal of the NDA is to weaken the Congress by conducting raids on its leaders. But since the Congress is united, that won’t be possible.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Cong President