BENGALURU: Karnataka BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa was arrested by Lokayutka police Monday evening at Kyatsandra near Tumakuru in an alleged bribery case. Virupakshappa has been arraigned as accused No. 1 in a bribery case, following his son Prashanth Kumar’s arrest when he was caught accepting a kickback of Rs 40 lakh from a contractor on behalf of his father for a tender issued by the state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KS&DL) earlier this month. Virupakshappa was chairman of KS&DL.
Prashanth is accused No. 2 in the case. A total of Rs 6.1 crore was seized during the trap at Virupakshappa’s office and raid on Prashanth’s house.
The Karnataka HC granted Virupakshappa ad-interim anticipatory bail on March 7, 2023, which Lokayukta police objected to and challenged it before the SC. Dismissing Virupakshappa’s petition and cancelling the interim anticipatory bail granted to him, Justice K Natarajan pointed out that the complainant has said he had approached Virupakshappa for allotment of tender and payment, and therefore, without the MLA’s instruction, the question of his son consulting the complainant, demanding and accepting the bribe does not arise.
“Police are yet to collect the statement of witnesses. The statement of the family members of the accused No. 1 has been recorded by the investigation officer and the amount has been seized from his bedroom. The investigation officer was not able to collect the call records and WhatsApp messages from the mobile of the petitioner. If the petitioner is out on bail, there is every possibility that witnesses may not come forward to give evidence against him,” the judge noted in his order. “The court feels the interim anticipatory bail, required to be cancelled as accused No. 1 has not co-operated with the investigation officer,” Justice Natarajan said.
Prashanth is accused No. 2 in the case. A total of Rs 6.1 crore was seized during the trap at Virupakshappa’s office and raid on Prashanth’s house.
The Karnataka HC granted Virupakshappa ad-interim anticipatory bail on March 7, 2023, which Lokayukta police objected to and challenged it before the SC. Dismissing Virupakshappa’s petition and cancelling the interim anticipatory bail granted to him, Justice K Natarajan pointed out that the complainant has said he had approached Virupakshappa for allotment of tender and payment, and therefore, without the MLA’s instruction, the question of his son consulting the complainant, demanding and accepting the bribe does not arise.
“Police are yet to collect the statement of witnesses. The statement of the family members of the accused No. 1 has been recorded by the investigation officer and the amount has been seized from his bedroom. The investigation officer was not able to collect the call records and WhatsApp messages from the mobile of the petitioner. If the petitioner is out on bail, there is every possibility that witnesses may not come forward to give evidence against him,” the judge noted in his order. “The court feels the interim anticipatory bail, required to be cancelled as accused No. 1 has not co-operated with the investigation officer,” Justice Natarajan said.
