Similar to the multi-crore fund transfer from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, another illegal fund transfer scam has come to light, in an embarrassment to the Congress government in Karnataka once again.
A tourism department official has filed a First Information Report (FIR) alleging that funds amounting to Rs 2.63 crore were diverted by a nexus involving officers from IDBI Bank Bagalkote, Deputy Commissioner and the Chairman of the District Tourism Development Committee. According to the complaint, the transaction was done without the knowledge of the department “with intent to defraud”.
The FIR, which News18 has accessed, accuses bank officers and government officials of opening separate accounts in the Bagalkote branch of IDBI to facilitate the deposit of funds allocated for beneficiaries, workers and various tourism development projects in the district. It is alleged that three accounts were opened in the branch.
The first account (no. 1071104000160063) was opened between 28.10.2021 and 22.02.2024, with a total of Rs 1,35,96,500 deposited from the tourism department accounts. The second account (no. 1071104000165228) was opened between 04.05.2022 and 07.11.2022, with Rs 1,01,33,750 transferred. The third account (no. 1071104000165501) was opened on 11.10.2022, with Rs 10,43,749 transferred.
“It has come to our notice that a total sum of Rs 2,47,73,999 was transferred from 28.10.2021 to 22.02.2024 with the intent to defraud by betraying their authority,” stated the FIR.
“A detailed investigation is being conducted into the matter, and action will be taken based on the police probe,” said Karnataka’s Minister for Law, Justice, Human Rights, Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation, and Tourism, H K Patil, to News18.
Following the Valmiki Corporation scam, which revealed an unauthorised transfer of Rs 187 crore from the corporation’s bank account, B Nagendra was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and resigned as minister.
Tourism Minister Patil issued an interdepartmental note stating that any financial irregularities should be reported to the minister and the officials concerned.
The note stated that, in light of recent reports of financial indiscipline in state government-owned corporations and boards, financial discipline has been strictly enforced in all departmental corporations such as the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Forest Lodges and Resorts Corporation, and Karnataka State Tourism Infrastructure Corporation, as well as departments such as the Directorate of Tourism, Department of Archaeology and Museums, and other subsidiaries.
It further stated that the ministry had received information about too many bank accounts being used in Corporations and Boards. Over 22 accounts are currently active, and some of these accounts have been inactive for many years. In some cases, important financial transactions are being managed by outsourced staff with no accountability. Action should be taken to correct these violations of Finance Department guidelines, and any misused government funds should be recovered.
“After putting strict norms in place and conducting an internal enquiry in the department, some lapses in Bagalkote were discovered. We asked the official concerned to file an FIR, and it was filed on Friday. Let the police investigate, and appropriate action will be taken. An updated figure of Rs 2.63 crore has been allegedly transferred without the knowledge of department officials to the IDBI accounts,” said the minister.
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