Karnataka BJP vows to oust Nagendra again over ₹187 crore Valmiki scam
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP's R. Ashoka has drawn a direct line from Nagendra's earlier resignation to the present — and is betting the same pressure campaign works twice. With a 9,000-page CBI chargesheet, an ED filing, and allegations of ₹187 crore diverted from tribal welfare funds across 600 accounts, the Opposition is framing this not as a political vendetta but as a Dalit community betrayal — turning Nagendra's own caste defence against him.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka on 19 August vowed to force Minister B.
Nagendra's resignation a second time over the Valmiki Corporation case.
Ashoka alleged ₹187 crore was diverted from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation , with ₹1.2 crore directly deposited into Nagendra's account.
The CBI has filed three chargesheets , including one of 9,000 pages ; the ED has also filed a chargesheet.
BJP rejected the state CID clean chit for Nagendra, demanding clearance from the Special Court for MPs and MLAs .
Nagendra accused the Opposition of targeting him on caste lines, alleging 'Manuvadis' were conspiring to oust a Dalit and tribal Cabinet member.
Funds were allegedly routed through a cooperative bank in Andhra Pradesh to Ballari and distributed across approximately 600 accounts .
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Wednesday, 19 August declared that the BJP would once again force Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra to resign, citing the alleged ₹187 crore Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation diversion case. Ashoka made the claim while addressing the media in Bengaluru, drawing a direct parallel to the minister's earlier resignation over the same matter.
What Ashoka Alleged
Speaking at length about the case, Ashoka alleged that ₹1.2 crore from the Valmiki Corporation funds was directly deposited into Nagendra's personal bank account, with additional amounts routed to accounts of his relatives and close associates. He further alleged that money was funnelled through a cooperative bank in Andhra Pradesh before being redirected to Ballari, Nagendra's native district.
The BJP leader named Nekkunti Nagaraj, described as a close associate of the minister, as one of the individuals into whose account funds were allegedly deposited. Ashoka claimed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed three chargesheets — one of them running to 9,000 pages — and that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also filed a chargesheet in the case. He alleged that funds were distributed across approximately 600 accounts.
'This was a pre-planned scam,' Ashoka alleged. 'How did Nagendra land in jail without investigation? How did a 9,000-page chargesheet come without an investigation?'
BJP Rejects State CID Clean Chit
Ashoka categorically rejected the clean chit reportedly granted to Nagendra by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), arguing that exoneration must come from a court of law — specifically the Special Court for MPs and MLAs — and not from an investigating agency. He cited the precedent of former BJP minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who, despite receiving a CID clean chit, was not immediately reinstated to the Cabinet.
'Let Nagendra get a clean chit from the court, particularly the Special Court for MPs and MLAs,' Ashoka said. He also questioned the minister's attempts to portray the CBI and ED as politically motivated, asking: 'CBI and ED have not come into existence today. They have been functioning for decades. Were they political or apolitical then?'
Nagendra Hits Back, Raises Dalit Angle
Minister Nagendra, responding to the Opposition's disruption of Assembly proceedings, accused the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) of targeting him on caste lines. He alleged that 'Manuvadis' were conspiring to remove a Dalit and tribal leader from the Cabinet, and questioned why the Opposition continued demanding his resignation even as the government expressed willingness to discuss the matter inside the Assembly.
This comes amid a broader pattern of Opposition-government confrontation in the Karnataka Assembly, where the ruling Indian National Congress (Congress) has faced sustained pressure over the Valmiki Corporation case since it first surfaced.
BJP's Counter on the Dalit Card
Ashoka firmly rejected the charge that the BJP was targeting Nagendra because of his Scheduled Tribes identity. He pointed out that the Karnataka government itself had several ST leaders who could be elevated to ministerial positions. 'Let the Congress make other ST leaders ministers. There are four of them. Let them do it. They should not play the Dalit card here,' he said.
The BJP leader maintained that the case was fundamentally distinct from other corruption allegations because it involved the alleged diversion of government funds earmarked specifically for the Scheduled Tribes community. 'This money belongs to STs and Dalits. We will not allow this,' he said.
What Happens Next
The BJP has signalled it will sustain its agitation inside and outside the Assembly until Nagendra steps down. With three CBI chargesheets and an ED chargesheet already on record, and the Special Court proceedings ongoing, the political and legal pressure on the minister is set to intensify. Whether the Congress-led state government moves to shield or distance itself from Nagendra will be closely watched in the coming sessions.
Point of View
Ashoka is normalising the demand and making a second exit seem inevitable rather than exceptional. But the Dalit-card counter from Nagendra is not without political traction — Congress has historically been sensitive to caste optics, and any move against the minister risks being read as capitulation to upper-caste pressure. What cuts through that noise is the sheer scale of the paper trail: a 9,000-page chargesheet and 600 accounts are not easily dismissed as political fabrication. The real test is whether the Special Court proceeds at pace or gets mired in delays — because in Karnataka's political calendar, time is the most valuable resource for both sides.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karnataka Valmiki Corporation case?
The case involves the alleged diversion of ₹187 crore from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, a body meant to fund welfare programmes for the Scheduled Tribes community. The CBI has filed three chargesheets and the ED has also filed a chargesheet in connection with the matter.
Why is BJP demanding B. Nagendra's resignation?
The BJP alleges that funds from the Valmiki Corporation were directly deposited into Nagendra's bank account and those of his associates, and that a 9,000-page CBI chargesheet details the transactions. The party argues the minister cannot continue in office while facing such serious charges in court.
What is the state CID clean chit and why has BJP rejected it?
The Karnataka state Criminal Investigation Department reportedly gave Nagendra a clean chit in the case. The BJP has rejected this, arguing that only a court — specifically the Special Court for MPs and MLAs — can legitimately exonerate the minister, not an investigating agency.
How has Minister Nagendra responded to the resignation demand?
Nagendra has accused the Opposition of targeting him on caste grounds, alleging that 'Manuvadis' are conspiring to remove a Dalit and tribal leader from the Cabinet. He has also questioned why the Opposition disrupts Assembly proceedings instead of allowing discussion inside the House.
Has Nagendra resigned before over this case?
Yes. According to BJP leader R. Ashoka, Nagendra had previously resigned as minister following a BJP agitation over the Valmiki Corporation allegations. The current demand is for a second resignation as the legal proceedings — including CBI and ED chargesheets — continue.
