Bengaluru: Government Document Reveals Happiest Minds Technologies Ltd Linked to Karnataka Valmiki Corporation Scam
Bengaluru: A bank account associated with Happiest Minds Technologies Ltd, an IT services firm promoted by billionaire tech veteran Ashok Soota, is identified as a beneficiary in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation embezzlement case, according to a government document.
The company’s involvement surfaced in a letter from Additional Chief Secretary (Scheduled Tribes Welfare) N Manjunatha Prasad to RBL Bank managing director and chief executive R Subramaniakumar on Friday. DH obtained a copy of this letter, where Prasad requested the freezing of Rs 89 crore fraudulently transferred from the Union Bank of India’s MG Road branch in Bengaluru to various accounts.
Among the beneficiaries, PIFUMS Management Pvt Ltd received Rs 5.35 crore, Zelliant Training and Consulting Service got Rs 4.97 crore, Happiest Minds Technologies Ltd was credited with Rs 4.53 crore, YM Enterprises received Rs 4.98 crore, Manhu Enterprises got Rs 5.01 crore, Accord Business Services received Rs 5.46 crore, Nithya Security Services was credited with Rs 4.47 crore, Volta Technology Services received Rs 5.12 crore, V6 Business Solutions got Rs 4.50 crore, and MS Talenq Software India Pvt Ltd received Rs 5.10 crore. All transactions took place through the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system between March 5 and May 6.
Prasad explained the fraud involved “numerous forged letters, cheques, and RTGS requests” with “forged signatures” of the Corporation’s managing director and accounts officer, leading to unauthorized disbursements from the Union Bank of India’s MG Road branch. Upon detailed verification of the passbook, it was discovered that Rs 89,62,99,500 had been disbursed to various accounts based on these forged documents.
Prasad urged the immediate freezing of the entire amount and its return to the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd’s account at Union Bank of India, MG Road branch.