Bengaluru, August 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Senior BJP MLA and former Karnataka minister V. Sunil Kumar on Monday stepped up his attack on the Congress government over B. Nagendra’s return to the state Cabinet, alleging that the former minister was rewarded despite the CBI naming him in connection with the alleged irregularities and criminal conspiracy in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
The political exchange comes amid continuing controversy over the alleged financial irregularities in the corporation. While the CBI has filed chargesheets in the case, the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has given Nagendra a clean chit. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is continuing its investigation.
Referring to the CBI chargesheets, Sunil Kumar alleged that the agency had described Nagendra as having played a “major and primary role” in the alleged irregularities and criminal conspiracy.
“Look here! The CBI has clearly mentioned in its chargesheet that former minister B. Nagendra played a major and primary role in the irregularities and criminal conspiracy in the Valmiki Development Corporation,” Sunil Kumar said.
He claimed that the CBI had filed three separate chargesheets after completing its investigation and had identified Nagendra as the alleged mastermind. He also referred to a CBI statement issued on June 2, 2026, concerning the chargesheet against Nagendra.
Sunil Kumar alleged that the Congress high command brought Nagendra back into the state Cabinet within a month despite the CBI proceedings.
“What does this mean? Is Nagendra the Congress high command’s ‘payment quota’?” he asked.
He also took a sarcastic swipe at the Cabinet allocation, asking, “Who ate the ‘full meals’ under the Karnataka Cabinet quota?”
The BJP has opposed Nagendra’s return to the Cabinet and questioned the Congress government’s decision to induct him while the alleged financial irregularities remain under investigation.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism, Karnataka Minister for Home, IT and BT Priyank Kharge defended Nagendra and questioned the basis for describing him as a “tainted” leader.
“Where does it say that he is tainted? According to the BJP, I am also a tainted leader. Since the BJP does not have any other issue, they want to disrupt the proceedings,” Kharge told reporters in Kalaburagi.
Kharge also accused the BJP of protesting over the release of drought relief funds, arguing that the Centre was responsible for releasing the funds.
“They are also protesting on the streets over the release of drought relief funds. It is the Centre that has to release the funds. They fear that we will question them about this in the House, so they are talking about disrupting the proceedings,” he said.
Questioning the BJP’s criticism of Nagendra, Kharge asked in which court the former minister had been found guilty.
“In which court has Minister Nagendra been declared guilty? If that is the case, why has the BJP given tickets to so many tainted leaders? Charges have been proved against Janardhana Reddy. You also know who is facing POCSO charges,” Kharge said, apparently referring to former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.
Kharge maintained that Nagendra’s earlier resignation was intended to prevent embarrassment to the government and did not amount to an admission of the allegations.
“Nagendra resigned only because he did not want the government to be embarrassed. He did not resign by accepting the charges. Whatever the case may be, the CID has given him a clean chit,” Kharge said.
FOLLOW NOW
