ED raids Bengaluru residences of Congress MLAs over Valmiki Corporation Scam allegations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids at multiple locations connected to former minister B. Nagendra and Congress MLA Basanagouda Daddal in connection with the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam. Over 20 locations connected to suspects and accused in the alleged scam at the state-run Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where money up to ₹88 crore was reportedly embezzled, were concurrently searched by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). 

Uncovering the Valmiki Corporation Scam

The date of the raid was July 10, 2024. Special Arrangement is credited with this photo. Over 20 locations connected to suspects and accused in the alleged scam at the state-run Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where money up to ₹88 crore was reportedly embezzled, were concurrently searched by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). 

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Enforcement Directorate officials raid residential and official premises connected to former minister B Nagendra in alleged Valmiki corporation scam

(Visuals from Ramkya Utsav residential premises of B Nagendra in Sanajaynagar, Bengaluru) pic.twitter.com/hxsjoUSMMJ

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

Two ruling Congress MLAs are being searched: Raichur Rural MLA Basanagouda Daddal, who is the Chairman of the corporation, and Ballari Rural MLA B. Nagendra, who resigned as Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare on June 6 due to the alleged scam. The ED raids occur one day after Mr. Daddal and Mr. Nagendra were questioned by the SIT on July 9 over the scandal. As of right now, the SIT has made 11 arrests and taken ₹14.5 crore in relation to the purported scam.

#WATCH | Karnataka | Raichur residence of Basanagouda Daddal, Chairman of Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Board also raided by Enforcement Directorate today pic.twitter.com/AVRXcikTsb

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

Raids at B Nagendra's Properties

ED officials targeted both residential and official premises linked to B Nagendra. Visuals from the Ramkya Utsav residential premises in Sanajaynagar, Bengaluru, show ED officials conducting thorough searches. These raids aimed to uncover evidence related to the misappropriation of funds and other illicit activities within the Valmiki Corporation.

#WATCH | During probe into Valmiki corporation alleged scam, Enforcement Directorate takes Former Minister B Nagendra's personal assistant, Harish to a bank in Bengaluru's Mathikere pic.twitter.com/dVGqOOQxdk

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

Simultaneously, the ED raided the Raichur residence of Basanagouda Daddal, Chairman of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Board. Daddal, a prominent Congress MLA, is also under investigation for his alleged involvement in the scam. As part of the investigation, the ED took Harish, the personal assistant to former minister B Nagendra, to a bank in Bengaluru's Mathikere.