SC Seeks Response Of Karnataka Lokayukta Appeal Against Anticipatory Bail Granted To BJP MLA Virupakshappa

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of BJP Member of Legislative Assembly Madal Virupakshappa in an appeal filed by the Karnataka Lokayukta against the interim anticipatory bail granted to him in a corruption case.

A Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia passed the order in response to a petition challenging the Karnataka High Court’s March 7 decision granted anticipatory bail to Virupakshappa.

The State had previously mentioned the case before a different Bench, which stated that the case would be listed as soon as possible, without providing a date. Virupakshappa had moved the High Court in a case filed against him by the Lokayukta police.

A special court in Bengaluru remanded five people, including Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth Madal, to judicial custody for fourteen days on March 4 for allegedly accepting a bribe. Prashanth, who is the Joint Controller of the State Accounts Department, was the Bengaluru Jal Board’s Chief Accountant.

The Lokayukta Police allegedly caught him collecting a bribe of 40 lakh to grant a contract to supply chemicals to the Karnataka Soap and Detergent Factory (KSDL).

Shreyas Kashyap, the owner of a Bengaluru-based partnership named Chemicals Corporation, filed the case. Kashyap have successfully competed in the tender procedure to supply chemical oil to KSDL in January 2023. He reported to the Lokayukta Police that the MLA and his son requested an ₹81 lakh bribe to release the mandate and money.

Prashanth and Virupakshappa were charged under Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The MLA is the first accused in the case, and his son is the second. Prashanth and four other people were later arrested on bribery accusations.

On March 2, they were brought before Judge B Jayanthakumar and sent to judicial custody.

“Lawyer Virupakshappa is missing. The remaining four accused have been charged under Section 8 of the PC Act. In the raids on Virupakshappara’s residences in Bangalore and Channagiri, a total of 8.3 crore was discovered, including ₹40 lakh in bribe money,” Lokayukta office sources informed legallyspeakings last week.

Later, Virupakshappa was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court.

Meanwhile, on March 8, a civil court in Bengaluru temporarily barred 45 media outlets from broadcasting defamatory material in connection with the case against Virupakshappa and his son Prashanth Kumar MV.