Valmiki Corporation 'Scam': Karnataka Congress Protests Against 'Arbitrary Actions Of ED', Alleges Political Targeting

The protest by Congress comes after the Bengaluru city police registered an FIR against two ED officials following a complaint by a social welfare department officer on Monday.

Karnataka Congress members including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Home Minister G Parameshwara held a protest at the Gandhi statue outside Vidhan Soudha on Tuesday. The protest was in response to what they described as arbitrary actions taken by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials. This comes after the Bengaluru city police registered an FIR against two ED officials, following a complaint by a social welfare department officer.

During the protest, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge criticised the BJP accusing it of using the ED to undermine the state's democratically elected government. "BJP is doing a surgical strike on a democratically elected government in Karnataka. ED officials are pressurising state government officials to name the CM and DCM in scandals they are not involved in," Kharge stated. He clarified that while they are not questioning the ED's investigation they object to the undue pressure being placed on government officials.

 

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "Today all legislators including ministers are protesting against the ED for forcing the Assistant Director of the Department of Social Welfare to spell out the name of the CM. The minister himself had resigned to cooperate in a free and fair investigation."

"The SIT has already recovered 50% of the amount and arrested a lot of people... Now the ED has become involved and they are forcing the Assistant Director of the Department of Social Welfare to say that the CM is involved... I have been targeted. CBI is harassing people like me... The FIR has been registered. The law will take its course. We do not want to meddle with the investigation... We will discuss it in the assembly also," he said. 

Cong Govt Accuses ED Of 'Exerting Pressure' On Govt Officials

Earlier, the Congress government has accused the ED of exerting undue pressure on suspects and witnesses to falsely implicate Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior cabinet members in an alleged illegal transfer of money from the Valmiki Development Corporation.

Meanwhile, on Monday, according to the complaint by Additional Director Kallesh B, he was summoned by the ED on July 16 for investigation on Karnataka Valmiki Development Corporation. Kallesh claimed that during his questioning by ED Assistant Director Muruli Kannan, he was threatened with arrest and denied bail unless he implicated former Minister Nagendra and the finance department. Kallesh further alleged that he was subsequently sent to IRS officer Mittal by Kannan for further pressure.