Due to the seriousness of the case, the investigation was handed over to the CID's Special Investigation Team (SIT) by government order. The probe included statements from 53 witnesses and over 590 pages of documentary evidence
Published Nov 30, 2024 | 8:06 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 30, 2024 | 8:06 PM
BJP's Rajarajeshwarinagar MLA Munirathna (Supplied)
A chargesheet has been filed against MLA Munirathna in the Special Court for Elected Representatives (CCH-82) following a complaint lodged on 13 September, 2024, by Shri Velunayakar at the Vyalikaval Police Station in Bengaluru.
The case, registered as Case No. 122/2024, involves serious allegations under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the chargesheet, the accused, Munirathna, aged 61, is charged with making caste-based derogatory remarks, issuing threats, and inciting enmity between communities.
Munirathna was arrested by the Bengaluru police near Mulabagilu in the Kolar district in a joint operation with the local Kolar police on 15 September.
The MLA was travelling to Andhra Pradesh via Kolar. He was detained following a complaint filed by a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor named Chelvaraju who alleged that the Rajarajeshwarinagar MLA had harassed and physically assaulted him.
Munirathna allegedly also insulted the modesty of the complainant’s mother by using derogatory, misogynistic remarks.
BJP leaders from the state, including Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly R Ashoka had questioned the arrest and claimed that it was a political conspiracy.
In response to the gravity of the case, the investigation was transferred to the CID’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) by government order.
Over the course of the probe, statements from 53 witnesses were recorded, and more than 590 pages of documentary evidence were gathered.
Among the key pieces of evidence presented, three eyewitnesses have testified before the court. Audio recordings capturing the accused’s caste-based slurs were also analysed, with forensic experts confirming that the voice in the recording matched that of Munirathna.
The charges against the accused include making inflammatory statements, using abusive language, threatening witnesses, and creating division between castes.
Following thorough investigation, the chargesheet was filed, marking a significant step in the ongoing legal proceedings. The case is now scheduled for further hearings in the Special Court for Elected Representatives.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Nolan Pinto)
