Karnataka BJP MLA’s son arrested for taking bribe, Rs 6 crore cash recovered during raid
Karnataka Lokayukta officials have arrested Prashanth Madal, BJP MLA's son and chief accountant of Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), for allegedly accepting Rs 40 lakh bribe. The incident took place on Thursday.
FollowFollowing the recovery of Rs 6 crore in cash from his home by Lokayukta, the Karnataka government's anti-corruption agency, on Friday morning, the son of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa was placed under custody.
BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth Madal was caught red-handed receiving a Rs 40 lakh bribe on Thursday. The anti-corruption watchdog of the Karnataka administration then carried out investigations at his home and workplace.
The Lokayukta found Rs 6 crore at the BJP MLA’s residence. The anti-corruption watchdog is likely to summon the MLA too for questioning. The Lokayukta discovered Rs. 1.7 crore in Prashanth Madal's workplace in addition to the Rs 40 lakh payment. At least three bags of cash were found in the KSDL office, which has also been seized, police said.
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The Lokayukta officers arrested Prashanth Madal, the son of sitting BJP Legislator Madal Virupakshappa, as he accepted the bribe in his office. Prashanth, a 2008 batch Karnataka Administrative Services officer, was reportedly caught accepting a bribe from a contractor for awarding a deal to purchase raw materials required to manufacture soap and other detergents.
The arrest of Madal is seen as a setback for the ruling BJP in view of upcoming Karnataka Assembly election slated later this year. The incident comes after accusations of graft from the opposition. Congress alleged that government contracts included "40% fee" and bribes. Additionally, House claimed that the searches supported their claims of commissions and corruption.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday assured that the guilty would not be spared. “We have reinstalled the Lokayukta office with the sole purpose of preventing corruption," he said
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