Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigns again amid ₹89-crore scam allegations:Steps down for second time in two years

Karnataka Congress leader B Nagendra resigned from Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s cabinet on Friday, marking the second time he has stepped down as a minister in two years. Nagendra faced pressure over the Valmiki scam, an alleged ₹89-crore financial irregularity involving the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. He had rejoined the cabinet in early August after DK Shivakumar took over as Chief Minister. Nagendra had previously served as a minister in the Siddaramaiah government in 2024 before resigning amid the controversy. Case dates back to 2024, when officer died by suicide The case concerns alleged financial irregularities worth ₹89 crore in the Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. In May 2024, the corporation’s accounts officer, P Chandrasekharan, died by suicide. In a note, Chandrasekharan alleged that funds had been transferred without authorisation. A subsequent investigation found that large sums of money had been transferred from the corporation’s bank accounts to other accounts. At the time, B Nagendra was the Tribal Welfare Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led government. He resigned from the cabinet in June 2024 following the controversy and was reinstated on August 3, after DK Shivakumar became Chief Minister. BJP, JDS repeatedly demand nagendra’s resignation The Valmiki Corporation case has put growing political pressure on Nagendra and the Congress government. The BJP and JDS have repeatedly demanded his resignation since his return to the cabinet, alleging his involvement in the diversion of government corporation funds. During the recent Monsoon Session, both opposition parties staged several protests inside and outside the Assembly. The disruption led to the session being adjourned sine die three days ahead of schedule on August 24. The BJP and JDS have also announced a padyatra from Raichur to Ballari from September 1 to 10, keeping the issue at the centre of their campaign against the Congress government. ​