One case was filed by the victim’s spouse accusing abetment of suicide against two officials of KMVSTDC and an Union Bank of India employee.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (Supplied)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah government on Friday, 31 May constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the illegal money transfer case involving the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd (KMVSATDC).
The four-member SIT team is headed by Manish Kharbikar, Additional Director General of Police, Economic Offences, at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bengaluru.
Three IPS rank officers – Bengaluru Traffic South DCP Shivaprakash Devaraj, State Intelligence SP Hariram Shankar and CID SP Raghavendra K Hegde – have also been named as members of the SIT.
Two FIRs have been registered connected to this incident. One was filed by the victim’s spouse Kavitha accusing abetment of suicide against the two officials of KMVSTDC and Union Bank of India’s employee before the Shivamogga’s Vinobanagar PS.
The second case is filed by KMVSTDC against the Union Bank of India, accusing them of funds being misused by the bank before the High Ground PS. The Chief Minister has directed both the cases to be transferred to SIT and submit the probe report at the earliest possible.
The unauthorised transfer of ₹88.62 crore from the Corporation’s bank account came to light after the Accounts Superintendent at the Corporation, P Chandrashekhar, died by suicide on 26 May, leaving behind a note.
He had named the corporation’s now suspended Managing Director JG Padmanabh, Accounts Officer Parashuram G Durugannavar, and Union Bank of India Chief Manager Suchismita Rawal in the note, while also stating that the minister had issued oral orders for transferring the funds.
The Opposition BJP has demanded the resignation of Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra, following allegations against him in connection with the scam.
“The government, considering both these cases and the seriousness of the financial irregularities at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, has decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team of the CID, which has technical expertise, for the probe and has issued an order,” the order said.
It has also ordered the state’s Director General and Inspector General of Police to transfer all the related cases lodged or to be lodged at various police stations in the state to the SIT, and to add more members to the team if necessary.
The SIT has been asked to submit the probe report to the government through the Director General and Inspector General of Police at the earliest.
(Edited by Neena)
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