Bengaluru: CBI registers FIR in Karnataka government employee suicide case

Bengaluru: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in the case of suicide of a tribal welfare worker amid allegations of misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 187 crore on the verbal instruction of a sitting minister of the Congress government. The Karnataka Congress government is concerned over the development, as the opposition BJP has already planned a massive agitation demanding the resignation of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Tribal Welfare Minister B. Nagendra. The BJP has set a deadline of Thursday (June 6) for the Congress party to take action. The BJP claims that Rs 187 crore meant for tribal welfare was transferred from the government account to personal accounts for use in the election expenses of the Congress party in the state of Telangana and other parts of India. The BJP has also alleged that it is impossible to transfer such a huge amount without the knowledge of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The CBI registered the FIR following a complaint by the management of the Bengaluru branch of Union Bank of India. The FIR names five persons, including three employees of the bank. According to the FIR, government officials, public representatives and private individuals are involved in the fraud, sources said on Wednesday. Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC) superintendent Chandrasekaran P. (52) allegedly committed suicide last week. He left behind a note, accusing senior officials and a sitting minister of pressuring him to misappropriate funds. Chandrasekaran also claimed that he was harassed and humiliated for questioning illegal transactions. His family claimed that he was under immense pressure after the money was transferred without his knowledge. According to sources, Siddaramaiah, who is facing criticism over the suicide of a government servant, is considering seeking the minister’s resignation. The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the case and is awaiting a preliminary report.