No shortage of funds for scam-hit Valmiki Corp: CM

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where misappropriation of funds was reported earlier this year, will face no shortage of funds. "The misappropriation of funds in the Valmiki Corporation should not be a reason for any shortage of funds for the tribal development," Siddaramaiah told reporters after a meeting on tribal development. The government will sanction the funds to the Corporation as announced in the Budget in February this year, he said. Siddaramaiah said there was misappropriation of funds to the tune Rs 89.63 crore, out of which Rs 71.54 crore has been recovered.

The ED had earlier arrested Congress MLA B Nagendra and five other key accused during its probe into the 'scam' at the Corporation. Nagendra was granted bail by the Special Court for People's Representatives here on Monday. He had resigned as the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister in June following allegations of his involvement in the 'scam.' The ED said last week Nagendra has been identified as the primary accused and mastermind behind the scam, allegedly orchestrating it with the help of 24 others.

Ready to face Assembly bypolls, says Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the ruling Congress is ready to face the by-elections in Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur Assembly constituencies. The Election Commission announced that the byelections would be held in the three segments on November 13. "We are ready to face the by-elections and have made all the preparations. We will contest it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. The by-polls in Channapatna, Shiggaon, and Sandur were due after H D Kumaraswamy (JD(S)), Basavaraj Bommai (BJP) and E Tukaram (Congress) resigned following their victory in the Lok Sabha elections in May this year.