Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigns amid allegations of financial irregularities

Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigned from the Cabinet on Friday amid pressure from the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party over alleged financial irregularities in the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation, The Indian Express reported.

The alleged irregularities came to light in May 2024 after an accounts superintendent with the corporation died by suicide and left a note alleging unauthorised transfers of funds. The Congress leader was the tribal welfare minister at the time, but was not named in the case.

He stepped down in June 2024, saying that he wanted a fair investigation in the case. He was re-inducted into the Cabinet on August 3, a month after DK Shivakumar replaced Siddaramaiah as the chief minister.

On Friday, Nagendra accused the BJP of pressuring him to step down.

“I asked the BJP many times to discuss allegations against me in the Assembly but they did not come,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying. “Where is the proof?”

Nagendra alleged that he was being “attacked” because he is a Dalit.

Edited by Nachiket Deuskar.
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