Valmiki Corp scam: BJP leaders seek court-monitored CBI probe

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Friday ordered issuing notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a petition filed by four BJP leaders in relation to the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation case. 

Justice M Nagaprasanna posted the matter to next week for further consideration. 

The petition, filed by BJP legislators Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Kumara Bangarappa, and former MLA Aravind Limbavali, stated that the CBI had registered an FIR in the case on June 3, 2024, based on the complaint filed by the Union Bank of India. 

No CBI probe

On November 13, the high court dismissed the bank’s petition for directing the state government to transfer the case to the CBI.

The case is currently probed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). 

The petitioners emphasised a court-monitored CBI investigation into the case. They also urged the high court to direct the CBI to submit a status report regarding the investigation every 15 days. 

“Court-monitored investigation is very much necessary in the present case as there is possibility of not investigating the larger conspiracy from decision to misappropriation of the money belonging to scheduled tribes and downtrodden people,” the petition said.