1 week ago
Kharge Says No Information on CBI Sanction Request
The CBI is reportedly asking Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for permission to prosecute Minister B Nagendra.
Nagendra is accused in a case involving alleged misuse of money from a Karnataka government corporation.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge said he does not know enough about the request.
He said the CBI should first contact the Karnataka government.
Karnataka has a law requiring the CBI to seek the state’s permission or opinion for investigations or prosecutions.
Kharge also said the CBI had earlier asked the state not to transfer cases to it without providing investigators.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Nagendra in July 2024, and he later received bail.
Opposition parties are demanding that Nagendra be removed from the Cabinet.
Nagendra has been named in chargesheets filed by both the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said he lacked information about the CBI reportedly seeking the Governor’s sanction to prosecute B Nagendra.
Kharge said the CBI should first write to the state government before seeking prosecution sanction.
Nagendra faces allegations linked to the alleged embezzlement of crores of rupees from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Nagendra in July 2024; he received bail from a Bengaluru Special Court in October 2024.
Opposition BJP and JD(S) members have disrupted Assembly proceedings while demanding Nagendra’s removal from the Cabinet.
- Who
- Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister B Nagendra, the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate, and opposition BJP and JD(S) members.
- What
- The CBI reportedly sought the Governor’s sanction to prosecute Nagendra, while Kharge said the agency should first approach the state government.
- Where
- Bengaluru and the Karnataka Legislative Assembly; the alleged irregularities involved a Karnataka state-run corporation.
- When
- Kharge made the remarks on Saturday; Assembly disruptions continued for a fifth consecutive day on Friday. Nagendra was arrested in July 2024 and granted bail in October 2024.
- Why
- The reported request concerns allegations of embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, while the opposition is demanding Nagendra’s removal from the Cabinet.
Karnataka Government Position
Opposition and Reported Agency Action
Procedure for prosecution sanction
Karnataka Government Position
Priyank Kharge said the CBI should first write to the state government and noted that Karnataka law requires state permission or opinion for CBI investigations or prosecutions.
Opposition and Reported Agency Action
The CBI is reportedly understood to have approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot directly for prosecution sanction, according to the report.
Nagendra’s ministerial position
Karnataka Government Position
Nagendra remains a minister for Planning and Statistics after being inducted into the D K Shivakumar-led Ministry on August 3.
Opposition and Reported Agency Action
The opposition BJP and JD(S) are demanding Nagendra’s removal from the Cabinet and have protested in the Assembly.
Key facts
- Minister involved
- B Nagendra, currently Karnataka’s Minister for Planning and Statistics
- Reported CBI action
- The CBI is learnt to have sought prosecution sanction from Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot
- State government position
- Priyank Kharge said the CBI should write to the state government first
- Case
- Alleged embezzlement involving the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation
- Arrest and bail
- The Enforcement Directorate arrested Nagendra in July 2024; a Bengaluru Special Court granted him bail in October 2024
- Chargesheets
- Nagendra has been named in chargesheets filed by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI
- Political response
- BJP and JD(S) members have demanded Nagendra’s removal from the Cabinet
Quotes
Priyank Kharge
Karnataka Home Minister
“On what basis they have asked. We don’t have any information. If the CBI seeks prosecution, they must write to the state first.”
thehansindia.com
“What they have given directly to the Governor, I don’t have much information about it.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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