A search of the house of a bureaucrat’s son of a BJP MLA from Karnataka led to the recovery of around Rs 6 crore in cash. Lokayukta’s Anti-Corruption Branch raided the house of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashant Madal and recovered huge amount of cash.
Madal Virupakshappa is the chairman of the state-owned Karnataka Soap and Detergent Limited (KSDL). It manufactures the famous Mysore Sandal soap. His son is the chief accountant in the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
Arrested taking bribe of Rs 40 lakh
Lokayukta officials on Thursday arrested the son of BJP MLA M. Virupakshappa while accepting a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. According to Lokayukta sources, Prashant Kumar was arrested from his father’s office Karnataka Soap and Detergent Limited (KSDL) in Bengaluru, where he was taking the bribe. According to Lokayukta police, Prashant had demanded Rs 80 lakh as bribe. Prashanth’s father is the MLA from Channagiri in Davangere district of Karnataka and the President of KSDL.
#BJP MLA’s son caught red handed taking bribe of 40 lakhs from a contractor in #Karnataka,
He demanded a total of 80 Lakhs from the contractor. 40% Sarkar going to take any action on 40 Lakhs bribe MLA? pic.twitter.com/QRxdycErCs
— YSR (@ysathishreddy) March 2, 2023
80 lakh demand
A demand of Rs 80 lakh was made, a complaint was made to the Lokayukta a week ago on behalf of this contractor, after which a plan was made to catch Prashant red-handed. A senior Lokayukta official said, “The amount was received on behalf of KSDL chairman Virupakshappa for the purchase of raw material. The accused father and son are the chairman of KSDL and the recipient of the money.”
Sources said that three bags of cash were recovered from Prashant. Prashant, a 2008-batch Karnataka Administrative Service officer, was caught accepting kickbacks from a contractor for a deal to buy raw material needed to make soaps and other detergents. It is said that he had allegedly demanded Rs 80 lakh, which the contractor had complained to the Lokayukta a week ago.