ED pressurising those arrested in Valmiki Corporation scam to name senior leaders: K’taka Minister

The ruling Congress in Karnataka on Thursday accused the BJP of using central agencies to topple the state government by exerting pressure on those arrested in connection with the Valmiki Corporation scam to spell out names of senior leaders.

Addressing a press conference, state Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda claimed that the Centre is attempting to bring down the Karnataka government as they did in states like Jharkhand, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal.

“We have definite information and we will share it with you. Those who have been arrested in connection with the Valmiki Corporation scam are being pressurised to name senior Congress leaders,” he said.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has detained former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra’s wife Manjula. She has been brought to the ED’s regional office in Bengaluru.

Earlier, a Bengaluru Court granted judicial custody to former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra in connection with the alleged Valmiki Corporation Scam till July 18.

The ED detained the former Karnataka Minister, followed by raids by the central agency at many places linked to former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra and MLA Basanagouda Daddal in connection with the alleged embezzlement of funds in Valmiki Development Corporation.