Mysuru: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah stoked fresh controversy on Tuesday, indicating that former minister B Nagendra, arrested for his alleged role in a Rs 90-crore ST welfare fund scam and released from jail barely a month ago, would be reinducted into the cabinet after the byelections as he was a victim of BJP's agenda and had no role in any irregualarities.
Speaking at a Valmiki Jayanti event in the district's HD Kote, Siddaramaiah hinted at a cabinet reshuffle after results of Channapatna, Sandur and Shiggaon bypolls are announced on November 23.
The CM's comment came in response to a request on the dais for a ministerial post for local MLA Anil Kumar C, also from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community. However, Siddaramaiah stressed the necessity of re-inducting Nagendra into the cabinet, saying the ex-minister "is a victim of BJP's agenda".
Questioned about a possible re-entry into the cabinet, Nagendra had said earlier that the final decision would rest with the CM, deputy CM and Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge.
Nagendra, former minister for Scheduled Tribes welfare, resigned on June 6 following allegations of his involvement in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam. Enforcement Directorate arrested him on July 12 in the scam that refers to diversion of funds from the corporation's bank account to several other accounts and finance Ballari Lok Sabha election campaign in May.
Shortly after his release from Bengaluru prison in mid-October, Nagendra called the incident BJP's conspiracy and accused ED of pressuring him to implicate Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar in the scam.
Called the "scam's mastermind" by ED, the ex-minister said the central sleuths arrested and harassed him for three months despite having no role in the alleged scam. "ED has come under pressure from BJP leaders several times. Through me, the agency tried to destabilise the govt," Nagendra had alleged.
The scam came to light after a corporation official, fearing punitive action, died by suicide. According to a statement from the CM's office, the government had recovered Rs 76.5 crore of the misappropriated funds. About Rs 13 crore is still missing.
Nagendra denied any wrongdoing in the case, saying irregularities occurred at the bank level and the state govt had no role in it.