Karnataka HC Dismisses Petitions In Mysore Sandal Bribery Case

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed two petitions filed by the alleged “bribe givers” involved in the Mysore Sandal scam, emphasizing the urgent need to address and eradicate the menace of corruption by holding the bribe giver equally accountable for prosecution, just like the bribe taker.

A single-judge Justice M Nagaprasanna was hearing a petition filed by Kailash S Raj, Vinay S Raj, and Chetan Marlecha, who are the owners of Ms Karnataka Aromas Company. Another petition was filed by Albert Nicolas and Gangadhar, who were found in possession of Rs 45 lakh each in cash in the office of Prashanth Kumar MV, the former finance adviser and chief controller of accounts in BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board). Prashanth Kumar MV is the son of Madal Virupakshappa, the former BJP MLA and chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited, the manufacturer of Mysore Sandal soap.

Following a complaint against Virupakshappa, the Lokayukta police conducted a raid at his son Prashanth’s office, where Albert Nicolas and Gangadhar were discovered carrying the cash.

A separate complaint was lodged, in which the aforementioned individuals, along with the three owners of Karnataka Aromas Company, were named as accused. It was this case that the five individuals challenged two separate petitions. The seized money is alleged to be the bribe that was purportedly being paid to Virupakshappa through his son Prashanth.

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The bench dismissed their request to dismiss the case and cited the words of US philosopher Ayn Rand, stating, “When the law no longer protects you from the corrupt, but protects the corrupt from you, you know the nation is doomed.” The court emphasized the need for an investigation to determine the reasons behind the two individuals carrying the cash. It noted that the accused individuals numbered 2 and 3 were apprehended during the search conducted in relation to Crime No. 13 of 2023, describing it as a layered situation.

“They were admittedly caught holding two bags of cash of Rs 45 lakh each and were sitting in the personal office of accused No. 1, son of the Chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited and they are the office bearers of Karnataka Aromas Company, a commercial organization.

“The question is why were they sitting in the personal office of accused No. 1, a public servant and why were they sitting with bags containing cash of Rs 45 lakh each waiting to see accused No. 1 in his personal office would become a matter of investigation,” the bench stated.

The single bench compared the connected incidents as a potboiler movie.

“Prima facie, if the story narrated by the learned senior counsel is accepted, it would be accepting a screenplay of a potboiler without letting investigation to be conducted into such ingredients, as the story, within a story twined is interesting to listen, it is a katha sangama but, if the petitioners are left off the hook, the very object behind the amendment and substituting Sections 8, 9 and 10 would be rendered redundant. It is high time the menace of corruption is plugged and nipped in the bud by making the bribe giver susceptible for such prosecution, like the bribe taker,” the bench stated.

The court, in rejecting the petitions, declared that “the facts presented are enveloped in corruption on all fronts. Therefore, it is not appropriate at this stage to provide the petitioners with legal protection. Consequently, considering the aforementioned reasons and finding no valid grounds in the petitions, the court has dismissed the petitions.”