Karnataka Cong MLA Nagendra 'mastermind' of multi-crore Valmiki scam: ED

Karnataka Congress MLA B Nagendra is the "mastermind" behind the multi-crore Valmiki Corporation alleged scam and the funds diverted from this state government entity were also used for a candidate who contested the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, the ED claimed Wednesday.

The federal agency said it has filed a prosecution complaint or charge sheet in this case sometime ago before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Bengaluru. The court has taken cognisance of the charge sheet, it said.

"B Nagendra, MLA and former Minister for Scheduled Tribal Affairs, has been named as the primary accused and mastermind behind the scam, allegedly orchestrating it with the help of 24 others, including key associates like Satyanarayana Varma, Etakari Satyanarayana, J.G. Padmanabha, Nageshwar Rao, Nekkenti Nagaraj, and Vijay Kumar Gowda," the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement.

Nagendra was arrested by the ED in this case.

The agency claimed its probe found that .