Bengaluru. A major twist has come to light in the Rs 187 crore scam in the Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation. A senior government official of Karnataka has filed a police case against two officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Congress and opposition leaders got the issue

The officer has alleged that he was pressurised to implicate Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a former state minister and some others in the Valmiki Nigam scam that came to light earlier this year. This complaint has given an opportunity to the Congress and opposition parties to corner the central government, who accuse the central investigating agencies of targeting opposition leaders on the orders of the BJP-led central government.

Today, Kalesh B, additional director of the state's social welfare department, alleged that he was asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on July 16 in connection with the investigation into the alleged Valmiki scam. He was asked to return on July 18 with some files. He said in his complaint to the police that the officials then asked him to name the chief minister and former minister B Nagendra, who have been arrested in connection with the case, and some others.

What are the allegations against ED officials?

In his complaint, he said the officials misbehaved with him and threatened to arrest him if he did not comply. The ED officials he named included Murali Kannan and an officer Mittal. He alleged that Murali Kannan asked him to name former minister B Nagendra, the 'topmost official' (apparently referring to CM Siddaramaiah) and the finance department. Kallesh then approached the police at Bengaluru's Wilson Garden police station and asked them to take action.

Cases were filed under these matters

The cases registered against them charge them with 'joint criminal liability with a common intention, criminal intimidation and intent to breach the peace'. The government official's allegations are in line with those told to the media by a group of ministers last week. On Thursday, five state ministers claimed that the ED was forcing those arrested in the Valmiki scam to name the chief minister and his deputy chief minister.

He alleged that the aim was to destabilise the elected government of the state. Ministers who attended the media conference included Krishna Byre Gowda, KJ George, Priyank Kharge, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Santosh Lad. The alleged scam came to light after the corporation's accounts superintendent Chandrasekharan P was found dead on May 21. He had written an alleged suicide note alleging illegal transfer of money from the corporation to various bank accounts.

CBI is investigating the corporation scam

Apart from the special investigation team formed by the Karnataka government, the CBI is also probing the alleged Rs 187 crore embezzlement. The agency has roped in the Enforcement Directorate to probe the possible money laundering angle. The ED has carried out searches at places linked to Nagendra and Valmiki Corporation chairman and MLA Basanagouda Dadal. The ED has arrested B Nagendra, who is currently in judicial custody.