In a development expected to turn up the heat on the ruling Congress, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is learnt to have recently sought sanction for prosecution from Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot against Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra, even as the Opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) continued to disrupt legislature proceedings for the fifth consecutive day on Friday seeking the ouster of the Minister.
The Opposition has been at loggerheads with the government demanding that Mr. Nagendra, who is facing a slew of cases in connection with the ₹89.63 crore embezzlement in Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, be dropped from the Cabinet. The money was allegedly transferred to multiple accounts, and so far, about ₹ 79 crore has been recovered.
Multiple sources confirmed that the Lok Bhavan has received the letter from CBI seeking sanction for prosecution recently. “The Governor has not decided on the matter yet,” sources said.
The CBI, which investigated the Valmiki Corporation scam, has already filed chargesheets in three FIRs in which the name of Mr. Nagendra figures. Incidentally, Mr. Nagendra has earlier been probed by CBI in the Ballari iron ore mining related cases.
Published – August 21, 2026 09:46 pm IST
