The BJP unit in Karnataka is planning to lay siege to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence on Wednesday over alleged multi-crore irregularities that have been reported in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC). Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition at the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka on Tuesday said former minister B Nagendra is being made a scapegoat in the scam, and by making him resign, an attempt is being made to protect political heavyweights. "Until the scam is taken to its logical conclusion and CM Siddaramaiah resigns, the BJP won't stop agitating," Ashoka said. The misappropriation came to light after P Chandrashekaran, a corporation official involved in auditing and coordinating with Union Bank of India, died by suicide on May 26 detailing the fraud and the people involved in a six-page note he left behind. Following the scam, Minister of Tribal Welfare B Nagendra resigned from the post. Ashoka said that he and state BJP president BY Vijayendra and party workers will lay siege to CM's residence after a march from the Kumara Krupa Guest house. "Siddaramaiah is directly involved in the scandal. He should tender his resignation, taking moral responsibility. If he doesn't, then the agitation will continue and grow stronger every day. It's impossible for the Rs 187 crore scam to occur without CM Siddaramaiah's knowledge," Ashoka said. The police so far have arrested 11 persons and have seized about Rs 14 crore. According to the KMVSTDC complaint, the corporation officials allegedly forged signatures and illegally transferred Rs 94,73,08,500 to various accounts. The FIR also alleges that the corporation did not receive any intimation of these transactions, either through SMS or through the registered email ID. In its complaint to the CBI, the Union Bank of India's Deputy General Manager and regional head of Bengaluru East stated that Rs 89.63 crore public money was defrauded and Rs 5 crore has been recovered. The investigation has revealed that of the 15 accounts to which the money was transferred, nine were opened at RBL bank in Hyderabad on March 31. Ashoka questioned, "Where did the rest of the money go and who was the beneficiary? How was the money deposited into hundreds of accounts lineked to gold shops, liquor shops and other establishments in Telangana at the end of March? Why is the government hesitant to hand over the case to the CBI?"
