ED raids in Valmiki Development Corporation case unwarranted: DCM

Tumakuru, July 11: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar today said that Enforcement Directorate raids in the Valmiki Development Corporation case were unwarranted.

Speaking to reporters at the Nonavinakere Kadasiddeshwara mutt in the district, he said, “The SIT set up by the State government is already investigating the case, there was no need for ED raids in the case.”

Asked about ED raids on several places including the residence of former minister Nagendra, he said, “It involves huge amount of money and hence banks have the authority to investigate the case. ED has come in even though there was no need for it to investigate.”

Replying to a query on why ED investigation is taking place when the SIT was already formed, he said, “Nagendra is not at fault. I am confident that he will come out clean after the investigations. The perpetrators of this case must be brought to book. There are similar such cases during the previous BJP government.”

Asked about ED raids on Nagendra and Valmiki Board Chairman Daddal, he said, “I don’t know the details of the raids. The SIT had issued a notice to Nagendra and Daddal in the case and the investigations so far have revealed that there is no involvement of the minister and the MLA.”

Asked about his visit to Nonavinakere mutt, he said, “I have been coming here for a long time. It is my faith and belief.” Asked about his visit to Handanakere mutt, he said, “I haven’t gone there, but I had got a road done to the Siddeshwara temple. I had gone there to check the objections raised by the Forest department.”

When asked if he would contest the Channapatna by-polls, he quipped, “Whoever contests from Channapatna, I am the candidate.”

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