Bengaluru, 31 May

Amid speculation that Karnataka Minister B Nagendra's resignation may be sought over allegations against him in an illegal money transfer case, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was examining the facts.

Home Minister G Parameshwara too, while admitting that the scam has taken place, said the Chief Minister will decide on whether the Scheduled Tribes Welfare minister must resign.

The unauthorised transfer of crores of rupees from Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation’s (KMVSTDC) bank account came to light after Accounts Superintendent Chandrashekhar died by suicide on Sunday evening, leaving behind a note detailing the misappropriation of funds.

He has named KMVSTDC Managing Director JG Padmanabh, Accounts Officer Parashuram G Durugannavar and Union Bank of India Chief Manager Suchismita Rawal in the note, while also stating that the minister had issued oral orders for transferring the funds. "The Chief Minister and I are examining the facts. Let there be an examination. There is no question of protecting anyone. Let's see," Shivakumar told reporters here.

It is learnt that Rs 88.62 crore was transferred without any authorisation from the KMVSTDC bank account at the MG Road branch of Union Bank of India here to other branches of the same bank, and apparently the money was then moved to the accounts of some software companies. The corporation's bank account had a total of Rs 187 crore.

Parameshwara, while responding to a question based on a report sought about the scam, said the Chief Minister will take a decision on Nagendra's resignation. "Let' see, the Chief Minister will decide." -Salar News