Bengaluru, June 6 (Reporter) In a shock move, Karnataka's Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare B Nagendra plans to resign Thursday amid a storm of accusations surrounding an illicit money transfer scandal. The revelation came as a surprise even to Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who told the media, "We haven't demanded his resignation. Neither has the Chief Minister issued any directives regarding this matter. It was his own decision to approach the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) and take step to resign. He's deeply committed to upholding the party's integrity and chose to take this step voluntarily to avoid any embarrassment." Nagendra's set departure was spurred by relentless protests spearheaded by the BJP, branding the saga a "major corruption scam" and clamouring for urgent accountability. The stage for this political spectacle was set with the BJP orchestrating a dramatic march from Vidhana Soudha to Raj Bhavan. At the forefront were BJP state President Vijayendra Yediyurappa and Assembly Opposition Leader R Ashoka, wielding allegations that cut to the heart of Karnataka's governance. They not only demanded Nagendra’s ouster but also implicated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, insinuating complicity at the highest levels of the government. Vijayendra said, "A colossal corruption scam has rocked Karnataka, involving the unlawful diversion of funds designated for the Scheduled Tribes community." His claims painted a grim picture of over Rs 187 crore, intended for the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, vanishing into thin air—funnelled into more than 18 fictitious bank accounts in Hyderabad. With fingers pointing towards the Finance Department, overseen by CM Siddaramaiah, the scandal's ripples threatened to capsize the state's leadership. Tragedy struck with the suicide of Chandrashekhar P, the Corporation's accounts superintendent, on May 26. His parting words etched a harrowing tale of Rs 187 crore being whisked away, with Rs 88.62 crore landing in accounts allegedly linked to prominent IT firms and a cooperative bank in Hyderabad. The accusations landed squarely on the desks of the Corporation’s suspended Managing Director JG Padmanabh, accounts officer Parashuram G Durugannavar, and Union Bank of India Chief Manager Suchismita Rawal, with whispers of the Minister's involvement in "oral orders" echoing through the corridors of power. In response, the Union Bank of India launched a full-scale offensive, lodging a formal complaint with the CBI. The investigative juggernaut swiftly swung into action, zeroing in on the MG Road branch and, in tandem, the Corporation lodged an FIR against senior Union Bank officials for the misappropriation of Rs 88 crore. Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara's affirmation of the CBI's involvement signalled a watershed moment, as the state cabinet cracked open the doors to a broader CBI inquiry into implicated state departments. In the backdrop of this political tempest, Shivakumar hinted at Nagendra’s impending resignation, revealing private discussions with the Minister. "Despite his claims of innocence, Nagendra has chosen to resign to safeguard the party's honour," Shivakumar disclosed...////...