Karnataka BJP MLA gets interim anticipatory bail in bribery case

BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, the prime accused in a corruption case registered by the Karnataka Lokayukta, was granted interim anticipatory bail on Tuesday by the Karnataka High court on a bail bond of ₹5 lakh.

BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, the prime accused in a corruption case registered by the Karnataka Lokayukta, was granted interim anticipatory bail on Tuesday by the Karnataka High court on a bail bond of ₹5 lakh. This comes after the MLA's son, Prashanth Madal, was caught taking a bribe of ₹40 lakh during a Lokayukta raid on Thursday.

Madal Virupakshappa is a BJP MLA from the Channagiri constituency in Davanagere district.

Virupakshappa was granted the anticipatory bail with the condition that he has to appear before the investigation officer within 48 hours for questioning. He was further barred from entering the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) office - where he was chairman - until further orders.

READ | Karnataka: Lokayukta catches BJP MLA's son with ₹40 lakh bribe money

After the initial discovery that Prashanth was accepting a bribe of ₹40 lakh as the first instalment of a Rs-81-lakh deal on behalf of his father, a sitting MLA from the Channagiri constituency in Davanagere district, further inspection led to the discovery of more than ₹2 crore from the office.

READ | Karnataka Congress holds protest demanding MLA's arrest after Lokayukta raid

In this light, the Karnataka Congress had staged a massive protest against the ruling BJP government on Saturday, demanding the arrest of the BJP MLA and the resignation of chief minister Basavaraj Bommai. Several leaders including former CM Siddaramaiah, Priyank Kharge and Randeep Singh Surjewala were detained by the police.

These developments come barely two months before the southern state is due for assembly elections.