South

Video: Nayak welcomes Karnataka BJP MLA “missing” after he was granted pre-arrest bail

March 7, 2023
Sezarr

Visuals from the scene showed a huge cheering, slogan-shouting crowd.

Karnataka BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, who was today granted pre-arrest bail by the High Court in a corruption case, was given a hero’s welcome in his hometown Davangere. The MLA was missing for five days after his son was arrested along with four others while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh.

Visuals from the spot showed a huge crowd shouting slogans alongside the MLA’s car. The MLA, riding in a car with a sunroof, smiled and waved while bursting crackers.

Madal Virupakshappa was named as the prime accused in the case after his son Prashant Madal was caught last month allegedly accepting bribes on his behalf.

The bribe was meant to secure a tender for supply of raw material to the Karnataka Soap and Detergent Limited (KSDL), where the MLA was the chairman, said the Lokayukta police, which is probing the matter.

Investigators recovered bundles of cash from his home on March 2. The next day, the Channagiri MLA resigned from the Speaker’s post.

Shortly after, as he went missing, the Youth Congress put up “missing” posters across the state.

The case revived several allegations of corruption against the Basavaraj Bommai government ahead of elections due this year, which proved to be a handout for the opposition Congress.

Last year, the opposition Congress launched a mock campaign PayCM to highlight allegations that the ruling BJP was charging 40 per cent commission from builders, contractors and others.
The bribe was apparently to be paid for projects in the departments.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose close aide and former deputy Manish Sisodia has been arrested in a corruption case, took a jibe at the BJP.

“Nothing was found in the raid from Prime Minister Manish Sisodia’s house. CBI, ED arrested him by invoking all sections. Your party’s MLA got so much cash here, he was not arrested? Now never talk about assault. ” Corruption. Doesn’t look good on your face,” read the Hindi translation of his tweet.

The AAP has claimed that Mr Sisodia’s arrest in connection with the now withdrawn liquor policy is political vendetta by the BJP for failing to get mandate in Delhi and Punjab.