Bengaluru: After the alleged scam in Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, Dr BR Ambedkar Development Corporation (ADCL) has come under scrutiny, with opposition BJP Friday accusing govt of siphoning off Rs 14.9 crore.In a post on X, opposition leader R Ashok cited an Enforcement Directorate (ED) press release detailing the alleged fraud involving forged documents, impersonation and premature closure of fixed deposits. Tagging Rahul Gandhi, Ashoka alleged that while the Lok Sabha LoP spoke about social justice, the Karnataka govt was “systematically looting” funds meant for SCs and STs. “Is this what he calls ‘Nyay’ (justice)?” he asked.ED filed a supplementary prosecution complaint against five accused before the special PMLA court in Bengaluru on Oct 5. Its investigation followed a CBI FIR under the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.ED found that a fictitious ADCL account was opened at State Bank of Mysore’s HAL II Stage branch. Four fixed deposits of Rs 5 crore each were allegedly closed prematurely using forged documents, and the funds were routed through multiple accounts before being withdrawn in cash. The agency had earlier named 15 accused, sought confiscation of assets worth Rs 6 crore, and attached property worth Rs 24 lakh.“First, Rs 187 crore designated for Valmiki ST community vanished into thin air, and now funds dedicated to Dalit development under Dr BR Ambedkar’s name have been laundered,” Ashoka alleged. He demanded accountability from Congress brass and said BJP would continue its campaign until those responsible were brought to justice.B Nagendra was forced to resign — twice — as minister after he was accused of having a hand in an alleged Rs 90-crore Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation scam.Under chief minister Siddaramaiah, the Ballari Rural MLA enjoyed a 13-month innings holding the ST welfare and youth and sports development portfolios. His second stint, under Shivakumar, barely spanned three weeks before he was forced to quit.
