HC Hands Over Valmiki ST Scam Probe to CBI, Major Jolt to Karnataka Govt

Bengaluru: In a significant blow to the Congress-led Karnataka government, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take full control of the probe into the sensational Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam. What was initially a limited investigation has now escalated into a full-scale national inquiry, stripping the state of any further role in the case. The court has ordered the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was previously handling the probe under state oversight, to transfer all case materials and documents to the central agency for a thorough and independent investigation.

The scam, which erupted earlier this year, involves the alleged misappropriation of crores of rupees meant for the welfare of Karnataka’s Scheduled Tribes. Funds under the Valmiki Development Corporation were reportedly siphoned off through fake accounts, shell companies, and unauthorised withdrawals. The case has already stirred political controversy due to its reported links to senior Congress leaders and legislators, making the High Court’s decision a major setback for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s administration. With the CBI now at the helm, the investigation is expected to intensify, potentially unearthing deeper political and bureaucratic complicity.