BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa sent to Lokayukta custody till April 1

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A day after BJP Channagiri MLA Madal Virupakshappa was arrested by Lokayukta police in connection to a corruption case he was produced before a court in Bengaluru and has been remanded in Lokayukta custody till April 1.

The MLA was arrested on Monday by the Lokayukta police near Kyathasandra toll in Tumakuru district while he was en route to Bengaluru from Channagiri. Before being shifted to the Lokayukta office, he was taken to a hospital for a medical check-up and was reportedly questioned till late night on the sources of money retrieved from his residence and that of his son’s.

The arrest followed rejection by the High Court of Karnataka on Monday of an advance bail plea petition filed by Virupakshappa. During the raid conducted by the Lokayukta on March 2, on former Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KDSL) chairman Virupakshappa’s office, officials had caught the MLA’s son Prashanth red-handed while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh in cash.

Following this, the Lokayukta carried out raids at both their residences and retrieved Rs 8.12 crore. The son, Prashanth, is the joint controller of the State Accounts Department, and was occupying the post of chief accountant in the Bengaluru Jal Board. So far, six people in relation to the case have been arrested, including Prashanth.