Home » Karnataka » Lokayukta Nabs Kas Officer Son Of Bjp Mla With ₹40 Lakh Bribe

Lokayukta nabs KAS officer, son of BJP MLA, with ₹40 lakh bribe

₹40 lakh was offered as bribe for the grant of a tender to procure raw materials for the KSDL, the Lokayukta investigation revealed.

ByBellie Thomas

Published Mar 03, 2023 | 1:22 AM ⚊UpdatedMar 03, 2023 | 4:55 PM

Lokayukta raid at MLA Madal Virupakshappa's office on Crescent Road in Bengaluru on Thursday evening. (Supplied)

Lokayukta sleuths in Bengaluru trapped the son of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa after he received a bribe of ₹40 lakh on behalf of his father on Thursday, 2 March.

Prashanth, who was trapped by the Lokayukta police, serves as the chief accountant of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the police said.

Prashanth is the son of Madal Virupakshappa, the BJP MLA from the Channagiri constituency in the Davanagere district.

Virupakshappa is also the chairman of the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL).

Also read: Who is BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, Yediyurappa loyalist whose son was caught taking bribes?

BJP MLA son caught by Lokayukta with cash

Accused son of MLA Prashanth caught red-handed while taking bribe

Prashanth was caught while taking bribes. (Supplied)

According to the Lokayukta police, they received a tip-off about the demand for bribes at BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s office at Crescent Road in Bengaluru.

Soon after, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Subramaneshwar Rao, along with the Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Kumar, informed the Lokayukta about the credible information.

After obtaining requisite permissions, a complaint was registered, based on which a team of Lokayukta officials raided the MLA’s office at Crescent Road around 6.45 pm on Thursday evening.

The sleuths seized ₹40 lakh from Prashanth, the son of MLA Madal Virupakshappa. The cash was reportedly offered as a bribe for the grant of a tender to procure raw materials for the KSDL, the investigation revealed.

The sleuths also stumbled on crores of unaccounted-for money at the MLA’s office and are questioning Prashanth about the sources from where the cash came.

Also read: Corruption ranks as top issue for voters in Karnataka

Son of MLA Madal Virupakshappa booked by Lokayukta

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Prashanth demanded a bribe of ₹80 lakh on behalf of his MLA father Virupakshappa to grant tender to procure raw material for KSDL.

Prashanth was caught red-handed while receiving ₹40 lakh cash, which was brought to him in several packets.

Inquiries further revealed that the bribe was received on behalf of the KSDL chairman for a tender for raw material procurement.

The Lokayukta officials completed the formalities of the raid and booked MLA Virupakshappa’s son under the Prevention of Corruption Act for further investigation.

“We are inquiring and questioning Prashanth further to ascertain if anyone else is involved or could be held culpable for this offence,” an SP-ranked Lokayukta official told South First.