Karnataka High Court Transfers Valmiki Case to CBI amid Election Scandal

The Karnataka High Court has handed over the investigation of the Valmiki case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court issued an order for the state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to transfer all relevant documents to the CBI.

The court also instructed the CBI to present a detailed status report. In October 2024, the Enforcement Directorate reported that Rs 15 crore from a total of Rs 89.63 crore, alleged to have been embezzled by former Karnataka Minister Nagendra and his aides, was used for Lok Sabha election expenditures to sway voters and for personal expenses.

The investigation revealed that Rs 187 crore were consolidated into a single account on the directions of Nagendra. This amalgamation took place within a bank on MG Road from the KMVSTDCL—an organization committed to the socio-economic advancement of Karnataka's Scheduled Tribes. The funds were reportedly laundered via shell companies after being transferred to fake accounts.

(With inputs from agencies.)