Bengaluru: Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra who has been at the center of the huge scam pertaining to illegal money transfer in Karnataka following which a government officer died by suicide, is likely to step down from his position, Republic Kannada reported on Thursday citing sources.

A crucial meeting in this regard was underway, and official announcement is expected to follow soon.

The State government yesterday suspended the Managing Director and an official of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd over allegations of an illegal money transfer.

The unauthorised transfer to the tune of nearly Rs 90 crore from the corporation’s bank account came to light after an Accounts Superintendent of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, Chandrashekhar, died by suicide on Sunday evening, leaving behind a note.

He has named the corporation's Managing Director JG Padmanabh, Accounts Officer Parashuram G Durugannavar and Union Bank of India Chief Manager Suchismita Rawal in the note, while also stating that minister in charge had issued oral orders for transferring the funds.

There have since been widespread calls demanding the resignation of Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra.

Padmanabh and Durgannanavar were suspended as they allegedly overlooked the creation of a new bank account that facilitated unauthorised transfer of funds.

The duo was suspended pending inquiry on charges of dereliction of duty, negligence and violation of financial rules, their suspension orders said.

(With inputs from PTI)