Bangalore: In a major crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday raided the residences of former minister B. Nagendra and MLA Basanagouda Daddal in connection with the Valmiki Nagar Development Corporation scam.
The ED officials, accompanied by CRPF personnel, conducted simultaneous raids at eight locations, including Nagendra's residence in Sanjay Nagar, Bangalore, and Daddal's residence in Yelahanka, Bangalore. The raids began at 7 am, and the officials seized important documents and are currently investigating them.
Nagendra, who was the Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister, had resigned from his post after being accused of involvement in the scam. The ED had received a complaint from the Union Bank regarding irregularities in the corporation.
The state government had handed over the investigation to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which had questioned Nagendra and Daddal on Tuesday. The ED officials are currently examining the documents seized during the raids.
In another development, the ED officials also arrested two close aides of Nagendra, Vijaykumar and Chetan, from their residence in Ballari.
The raids were conducted at 18 locations across Bangalore, Ballari, Raichur, and Hyderabad. The ED officials are investigating the involvement of Nagendra and Daddal in the scam, which has caused a stir across the state.
The Valmiki Nagar Development Corporation scam, involving Rs 187 crore, has been making headlines for some time now. The ED's action is seen as a major step towards uncovering the truth behind the scam.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.