Bengaluru, 22 August

The CBI will have to write to write to the State government first instead of seeking Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction to prosecute Minister B Nagendra, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said on Saturday. He noted that the Karnataka government has enacted a law that mandated that central bodies must seek the State government's permission or opinion for any investigation or prosecution, and added that “I don’t think they have done this”. 

The CBI is learnt to have recently sought sanction for prosecution from the Governor against Nagendra, who faces charges in connection with the alleged embezzlement of crores of rupees at Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation.

“On what basis they have asked the Governor, we don’t have any information. If the CBI seeks prosecution, they must write to the State first,” Priyank said in response to a question.

He noted the Central agency had written to the previous chief secretary Rajneesh Goel requesting not to hand over any cases to them, and if any case is given, all staff, including investigation officers, should be provided by the State.

“If we have to provide the investigation officers, that means we are doing the investigation," he remarked.

The induction of Nagendra into the DK Shivakumar-led Cabinet has disrupted the proceedings in both the Legislative Assembly and the Council for five consecutive days, with the Opposition demanding that the scam-hit Ballari MLA resigns as the Planning and Statistics Minister. 

Priyank condemned the BJP for not participating in discussions, but added that “It is a fight for BY Vijayendra to remain as the BJP State President and for R Ashoka to remain as Leader of Opposition. There is no third reason other than these two behind these protests."