Latest news with #Tukaram
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
ED searches premises linked to Ballari Congress MP Tukaram, three MLAs in connection with Valmiki corporation ‘scam'
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday searched the premises linked to Ballari Congress MP, E. Tukaram, and three MLAs in connection with alleged diversion of funds from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation in 2024. The premises linked to Mr. Tukaram and Nara Bharath Reddy, the MLA for Ballari, and J.N. Ganesh, MLA for Kampli, were searched by separate ED teams. Mr. Tukaram and his wife E. Annapurna, MLA for Sandur, were questioned by the ED officials for a few hours. They also searched the residence of Govardhan Reddy, a close aide of Ballari Rural MLA and former Minister B. Nagendra. The ED also arrived at the residence of MLA, N.T. Srinivas, at Narasimhagiri in Kudligi taluk. However, only the MLA's mother was present at the time, and he was away. The raids are linked to the alleged diversion of funds from the Valmiki corporation, of which ₹20.19 crore is suspected to have been used during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Ballari. Filing a charge sheet in the case, with Mr. Nagendra as accused 1, in October, 2024, the ED had claimed ₹89.62 crore was diverted from the corporation into various accounts. The charge sheet also claimed that of this, ₹20.19 crore was used to support the party candidate in the2024 Lok Sabha elections from Ballari constituency. A substantial part of this money was used to procure alcohol to be distributed during the elections, ED sources said. The ED had reportedly recovered a note from the mobile phone of Mr. Nagendra's aide Vijay Kumar Gowda allegedly detailing the expenses and distribution of money for Lok Sabha elections, 2024, in Ballari constituency. The ED claimed that Mr. Gowda handled cash for Mr. Nagendra. The three MLAs raided on Wednesday, also figured in the note, the sources claimed. 'Targeting Opposition' Responding to the ED raids, Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, accused the Union government of misusing investigative agencies to target the Opposition. 'They allege that misappropriated funds were used during the Lok Sabha elections, yet these raids are taking place a year later. Thousands of crores were seized during the elections, but no one knows where that money went. Instead of addressing that, they are harassing the Congress in an attempt to destabilise us and gain political advantage. But that will not happen. We are united and will stand firm,' he said during his interaction with media representatives at his residence in Kalaburagi in the morning Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala also condemned the raids by questioning whether the success of Karnataka Congress government's guarantee schemes had disturbed the BJP's sleep. 'They [BJP] continue to weaponise agencies to attack opposition leaders out of sheer political hatred… Despite these sinister attempts, the Modi-led central government's misuse of power cannot break the unity of the Congress party or weaken democracy,' he said in a post on X post.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
K'taka BJP welcomes ED action in tribal Board case
Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP has welcomed the raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on four Congress MLAs and an MP in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Maharshi Valmiki Tribal Welfare Board in Ballary district and Bengaluru on Wednesday. Speaking to the media at the BJP state office, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru, senior BJP leader and former minister B. Sriramulu stated, "Today's ED raids are going to make many leaders' masks fall. We need to find out which great leader is behind this scam.' 'They have swallowed the incentive money for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, scholarship funds, Ganga Kalyana scheme money, and funds meant for schemes for the poor," B. Sriramulu alleged. B. Sriramulu expressed confidence that following the ED raids, the people will teach a fitting lesson to those who misappropriated funds. 'They have looted funds meant for our community children and people,' he reiterated. He said, "Perhaps they became MPs and MLAs today using that very money. But the people of this land are watching everything. They will teach them a fitting lesson." He stated that the ED was raiding the houses of MP Tukaram from Ballari district, MLAs Na. Ra. Bharath Reddy, Srinivas, and Kampli Ganesh. "These leaders used to talk as if they were very honest. They used to talk in a way that implied that all they do is virtuous deeds. Many people thought they were honest and would act according to their words," he added. "Under the leadership of State President B.Y. Vijayendra, party leaders, and workers, we had undertaken a padayatra against the corruption in the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation. We had demanded former minister B. Nagendra's resignation. Upon our insistence, he resigned from that position and went to jail," he informed. During the investigation, the Board staffer, P. Chandrasekaran, committed suicide after writing a death note. "In that death note, he very clearly stated that a powerful minister was involved. He also mentioned which officials were involved. The BJP has been fighting against the Valmiki scam till today," he stated. "Even after questioning where the transferred money went, the government is unable to answer. This government claims to be on the side of Scheduled Caste and Tribe people, but the Congress government did not work to save those children," Sriramulu claimed. He questioned, "Governments may come and go. But ministers and public representatives should have the wisdom on how to conduct themselves. If they swallow government money, are they fit to be called politicians?" OBC Morcha State General Secretary Somashekar, BJP leaders M.D. Lakshminarayan, and Venkatesh were also present at the office.
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
ED raids premises linked to Congress MP E Tukaram, 3 MLAs in Karnataka ST corporation scam case
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches at premises linked to Congress MP from Ballari E Tukaram and three MLAs in Karnataka in a case about alleged irregularities in the state Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, PTI reported. Five locations in Ballari and three in Bengaluru belonging to Tukaram and the three MLAs – the Congress' Nara Bharath Reddy, JN Ganesh and NT Srinivas – were being searched under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the news agency quoted unidentified officials as saying. Commenting on the searches, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the state government would not support any violation of the law nor come in the way of its implementation, PTI reported. 'Let them do whatever they want in accordance with the law…We won't obstruct it,' he said. The case pertains to the alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the state Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. The matter came to light in May 2024 after its accounts superintendent, Chandrashekhar, died by suicide. In a note left behind, Chandrasekhar alleged that funds to the tune of Rs 187 crore had been transferred from the corporation's bank account. A Special Investigation Team set up by the Karnataka government is looking into the allegations of misappropriation of funds. The team has arrested 14 persons in the case, including two officials of the corporation – managing director Padmanabha GJ and accounts officer Parashuram Dugganavar, The Indian Express reported. The Enforcement Directorate has also claimed that Rs 20.19 crore of the funds siphoned from the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation was used to support the Tukaram's campaign from Ballari constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
ED raids premises linked to Cong Bellary MP, 3 MLAs in K'taka Valmiki case
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches against Congress' Bellary MP E Tukaram and three MLAs in Karnataka as part of a money laundering probe into the alleged Valmiki scam, official sources said. The sources said premises linked to Tukaram and the three MLAs are being searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The money laundering case stems from FIRs registered by Karnataka Police and CBI which alleged that funds worth crores of rupees were diverted from the accounts of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation (KMVSTDC) and sent to "fake accounts" before being laundered through shell entities. The corporation was established in 2006 with a primary focus on the socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Karnataka by running welfare schemes for them. The ED has alleged that the cash siphoned from the Valmiki funds was used in Bellary constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Karnataka Congress In Trouble: ED Raids Bellary MP, 3 MLAs in Karnataka Valmiki Case
Last Updated: It is alleged that the money was withdrawn from the Karnataka Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation funds and was spent in the Lok Sabha elections. The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches against Congress' Bellary MP E Tukaram and three MLAs in Karnataka as part of a money laundering probe into the alleged Valmiki scam, sources informed. It has been learnt that the premises linked to Tukaram and the three MLAs are being searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The three leaders being investigated by the investigative agency are: NT Srinivas, NB Reddy and JN Ganesh. It is alleged that the money was withdrawn from the Karnataka Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation funds and was spent in the Lok Sabha elections. The ED has alleged that the cash siphoned from the Valmiki funds was used in Bellary constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In 2024, BJP leader CN Ravikumar, who is an MLC, disclosed the matter in a press conference, following which the central investigative agencies — CBI and ED — entered the probe into this scam involving 89 crore. According to the initial allegation, about 21 crore was withdrawn from the funds of Karnataka Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation and spent during the last Lok Sabha elections in Bellary Lok Sabha. The money laundering case probe began after FIRs were registered by Karnataka Police and CBI alleging that funds worth crores of rupees were diverted from the accounts of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation (KMVSTDC) and sent to 'fake accounts" before being laundered through shell entities. The corporation was established in 2006 with a primary focus on the socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Karnataka by running welfare schemes for them. First Published: June 11, 2025, 10:10 IST
