ED: Ex-mantri used Rs 15cr of Karnataka scam funds to influence LS polls

NEW DELHI: In a serious charge against Congress for resorting to cash-for-votes during the recently held Lok Sabha elections , the Enforcement Directorate in its chargesheet filed against former Karnataka minister B Nagendra in the Valmiki Corporation scam has claimed that Rs 15 crore cash was distributed to voters at a rate of Rs 200 per voter in Bellary during the polls.

The chargesheet against Nagendra and 24 others was filed last month and a special PMLA court in Bengaluru took cognisance of it last week. Nagendra was granted bail by a Bengaluru court on Monday. The cash-for-votes is a serious electoral malpractice under the Representation of People's Act.

ED says its probe found Rs 187 crore was allegedly siphoned off from the Karnataka Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation by Nagendra and his associates, and the 'proceeds of crime' were used for bribing voters and personal expenses of the accused, including their flight bookings and hotel stays.

In the chargesheet, the ED produced evidence seized during its searches, supported by recorded statements of the accused. Pictures of cash bundles and tabulated details of money distributed to voters were recovered from Nagendra's personal assistant Vijay Gowda, who later corroborated the facts in his statement before the agency.

"Incriminating evidence, including images of cash bundles, was discovered during the search of Vijaya Gowda's mobile phone. One image, taken on March 21, showed bundles of cash meant for distribution to party workers," ED said.

"During the investigation, it was established that Nagendra handled a substantial portion of the 'proceeds of crime', primarily in the form of cash, which was used to support activities related to the Lok Sabha elections 2024. This cash, siphoned off from Valmiki Corporation, was received and distributed by Vijay Gowda, PA to Nagendra, under his instructions," the agency said.

ED further said Gowda "confirmed in his statement that he had handed over cash to the persons instructed by B Nagendra which eventually went to party workers and voters for the purpose of election-related activities".

Around 7.5 lakh voters in the four assembly constituencies of Bellary rural, Bellary city, Kampli and Kudligi were allegedly paid Rs 200 each, according to ED, totaling to Rs 15 crore. This was in addition to Rs 10,000 booth-wise distribution to Congress workers in these constituencies, an additional sum of about Rs 72 lakh. "During his statement, Gowda also explained how he acted on instructions from Nagendra, receiving and handing over cash to designated individuals. When confronted with this evidence, Nagendra remained evasive and refused to provide a clear response," the ED said.