The principal accused in the ₹94-crore ST fund scandal reportedly purchased a pre-owned Lamborghini from a Hyderabad dealership, using ₹3.3 crore diverted from funds designated for the development of Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka.
However, this extravagant purchase was short-lived. Law enforcement swiftly tracked the money, located the car, seized it, and returned it to the dealer. They also recovered the misappropriated ₹3.3 crore.
According to insider sources, Satyanarayana Varma, 36, was apprehended by the SIT in Hyderabad on June 13. During the operation, authorities seized ₹8.2 crore linked to the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation Ltd.
Varma claimed that the Lamborghini had cost him ₹3.3 crore. Following his arrest in Hyderabad, Varma was brought to Bengaluru for further questioning by the SIT. He allegedly admitted to the purchase during interrogation. SIT officials verified this by contacting the dealership, though they did not disclose specifics such as the model of the vehicle involved.
Previously, on 12 July 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has detained former minister B Nagendra, a Congress MLA representing the Ballari Rural constituency. This arrest is part of the ED’s investigation into an alleged scam at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where approximately ₹88 crore is suspected to have been misappropriated.
Following raids conducted at several locations associated with him from 10 to 12th July , Nagendra was escorted to the ED office in Shantinagar, Bengaluru. He is anticipated to be formally arrested later. Nagendra told reporters, “I have no knowledge of any wrongdoing at the corporation. I maintain my innocence and believe I am being targeted as part of a political plot.”
The alleged scandal surfaced after N. Chandrashekharan, a corporation employee, tragically took his own life on May 26, leaving behind a note accusing the “minister” of involvement in the fund embezzlement. Nagendra, who previously served as the Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare in Karnataka’s government, resigned from his post on 6 June 2024.
The investigation into these allegations involves three separate agencies: the State Government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The SIT has already arrested 11 individuals and recovered ₹14.5 crore believed to be part of the misappropriated funds.
(With Inputs From TOI)
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