Karnataka BJP MLA on run as officials confiscate Rs 8 crore from son's home
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Bengaluru: Officials from the Karnataka Lokayukta raided the Bengaluru office and home of BJP MLA K Madal Virupakshappa's son Prashanth Madal and confiscated Rs 8.12 crore in unaccounted cash. The BJP lawmaker has been on the run since Friday morning while Prashanth, who was detained on Thursday, has been remanded in prison. Prashanth was detained after he accepted a Rs 40 lakh payment.
The amount of cash seized, Rs 8.12 crore, is reportedly the highest in a single case in Karnataka Lokayukta history. The primary suspect in the case, Virupakshappa, is currently wanted by the authorities. The MLA previously gave notice of his resignation as head of Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL), the New Indian Express reported.
After Shreyas Kashyap, the owner of Chemixil Corporation filed a complaint alleging that Madal and his son were demanding Rs 81 lakh from him and TAS Murthy, the owner of MS Delicia Chemicals, the Lokayukta police registered an FIR against the father-son pair. Madal is the assembly representative for the Channagiri Assembly constituency in Davanagere.
According to the allegations, the bribe was for awarding a tender for supplying a chemical oil to KSDL, issuing purchase orders and seamlessly releasing the bill amount for the chemical supplied. Prashanth, who is the chief accountant of Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board (BWSSB), and four others, who were arrested on Thursday, were produced before a magistrate who remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days.
“The police officers had seized Rs 2.02 crore unaccounted money from Prashanth’s private office on Crescent Road on Thursday night. Simultaneously, his residence was also searched where Rs 6.10 crore unaccounted money was found,” Lokayukta Justice BS Patil told reporters.
When asked whether the MLA will be questioned, Justice Patil said, “It is not appropriate to divulge details as the investigations are underway. The police wing will decide on that.” Accountant Surendra and three others have also been arrested.