Karnataka news: The anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta cops seized around Rs 6 crore cash from the residence of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa's son today (March 3). They nabbed sitting Karnataka BJP MLA son Prashanth Madal on March 2 while he was receiving a Rs 40 lakh bribe. He was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta officials while he was receiving the bribe at his office on Thursday.
Notably, Madal Virupakshappa is the chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited. Lokayukta was on duty after getting a complaint about the demand for a bribe. According to the official source of Lokayukta, more than Rs 1.7 crore in cash was found at Prashanth Madal's office.
Prashanth Madal is the chief accountant of Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and son of BJP MLA from Channagiri Assembly constituency, K Madal Virupakshappa.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Maadal Virupakshappa resigned from the board of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited. In a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister, he said "there is some conspiracy against my family. I am submitting my resignation under moral responsibility as there is an allegation against me."
Huge recovery ahead of polls:
With Karnataka set to go to the polls later in 2023, the development is seen as a serious setback for the ruling BJP. The incident came to light at a time when the opposition is attacking the BJP government in Karnataka over 40 per cent 'commission' and kickbacks in government tenders. According to sources, Prashanth had demanded Rs 80 lakh as bribe to clear a tender process. He was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 40 lakh at his office.
Prashanth has been taken into custody by the Lokayukta police who are now verifying the documents. The complaint was filed regarding allotment of tender for providing raw materials to the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL). Prashath's father is the Chairman of KSDL. The authorities are likely to question BJP MLA Virupakshappa as the bribe money was received on behalf of the KSDL Chairman for raw material procurement tender.
Another such incident in Gwalior:
In a similar incident, a team of Lokayukta caught a clerk posted at Employees' State Insurance Corporation red-handed for accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior on February 24, an official said. The accused clerk has been identified as Shubham Gupta. He was demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a woman contractual employee posted in MPEB (Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board) in lieu of withdrawing her maternity leave money.
Lokayukta Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raghvendra Rishishwar said, "We received a complaint from a woman who wished her name not to be quoted working as a contractual employee at MPEB, lodged a complaint on February 20. She said that the maternity leave amount which gets deducted from her bank account (around Rs 50,000) was to be given to her by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation."
But the accused clerk Shubham Gupta was not giving that money to her, instead, he was demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000 to sanction the amount. Acting on the complaint, a trap was initiated and the accused was caught red-handed. The team also recovered the bribe amount from the accused, Lokayukta DSP added.A case was registered against the accused under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. After the recovery of the bribe amount, additional sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act have been imposed against him. Further investigation into the matter is underway, he added.
(With agencies inputs)
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