Karnataka defends Nagendra’s cabinet inclusion amid protests

What Happened

The Karnataka government publicly defended the inclusion of B. Nagendra in the Cabinet, despite him being an accused in an embezzlement case related to the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Opposition members disrupted proceedings in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, demanding his resignation.

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara spoke in defense of the decision in both houses, criticizing the Opposition for the disruption. He stated that about ₹89.63 crore was allegedly misappropriated from the corporation, of which ₹79.68 crore had been recovered from its officials. He also noted that a special court in Bengaluru granted bail to Nagendra on October 14, 2024, and that no court has convicted him yet. Parameshwara cited an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court to argue that criminal cases were pending against numerous lawmakers across both houses as well as serving chief ministers, suggesting that including a minister accused in a case is not unusual.

Earlier, Nagendra held a press conference in which he claimed he was being targeted by political rivals because he is a Dalit leader. He said the allegations against him were under investigation and that he would accept punishment if convicted by a court. He had previously resigned from the position of ST Welfare Minister in a prior government amid embezzlement allegations, though CID gave him a clean chit while other agencies named him in charge sheets.