One down for Siddaramaiah govt as Minister B Nagendra likely to step down

Karnataka Minister B Nagendra, embroiled in the ST Development Corporation 'embezzlement scam', is likely to step down from the Siddaramaiah cabinet.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday reportedly directed B Nagendra to tender his resignation, with the ST Welfare minister likely to announce his resignation on Thursday.

Nagendra's name has cropped up in a multi-crore 'scam' that came to light after a government official died by suicide and left 5-page death note, in which he mentioned names of his superiors as well as a "minister", who he alleged orally instructed him to carry out the transfer of funds to the tune of Rs 90 crore - of the Rs 187 crore meant for ST welfare - to multiple bank accounts.

CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar held a meeting after news broke about the CBI filing an FIR based on a complaint filed by the Union Bank.

The CM and Shivakumar, who is also Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, reportedly summoned Nagendra and explained the circumstances leading them to seek his resignation. Nagendra agreed to resign only once both leaders assured him that he would be reinstated if his name was cleared, a source told DH.