BJP MLC raided in Karnataka, 5,000 pieces each of sarees and bags with his photo stamped on them seized

While the police are expected to file an FIR against R Shankar over the seizures made late Wednesday evening, he told reporters that the raids were a part of a ploy to “finish him off politically” and hinted at quitting the BJP.

R Shankar was elected from the Ranebennur constituency in Haveri district in the 2018 election on a Karnataka Pragnyavantara Janatha Party ticket. (R Shankar Facebook account/Special arrangement)

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Yet another BJP leader of Karnataka was Wednesday raided by the law enforcement agencies after the local district administration received a tip-off about R Shankar, an MLC, allegedly storing large quantities of sarees and bags for distribution to voters during the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

While the police are expected to file an FIR against R Shankar over the seizures made late Wednesday evening, he told reporters that the raids were a part of a ploy to “finish him off politically” and hinted at quitting the BJP if he is not fielded in the next Assembly election.

Based on a tip-off, the Haveri district administration dispatched Commercial Tax officials for an inspection who found bags and sarees in large quantities inside a godown. Haveri Deputy Commissioner Raghunandan Murthy told The Indian Express, “We found at least 5,000 pieces each of bags and sarees following which the tahsildar inspected the godown and filed a police complaint.”

The godown where the items, which bore photographs of the MLC, were found is close to Shankar’s residence. The officials sealed the godown, Murthy said.

Talking to the media, Shankar said, “You are seeing how I am being finished off politically. I have not spoken about it. I have been patient and will remain patient.”

Based on a tip-off, the Haveri district administration dispatched Commercial Tax officials for an inspection who found bags and sarees in large quantities inside a godown. (Special Arrangement)

Expressing his desire to contest the Assembly polls, he said that he would wait till the nominations are filed. “If the party (BJP) recognises me, I will remain with it,” he said, adding, “If they do not (field me as a candidate), I will quit the party.”

Shankar was elected from the Ranebennur constituency in Haveri district in the 2018 election on a Karnataka Pragnyavantara Janatha Party ticket. He was among the 17 legislators who withdrew support from the Congress-JD(S) coalition government and backed the BJP in 2019.

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However, he was not fielded by the BJP in the by-election for the 17 seats as the party went with Arunkumar Guththur. Shankar was made an MLC and later appointed as the Minister for Horticulture and Sericulture. He was in the state Cabinet for six months starting January 2021 before being removed.

Wednesday’s seizures came days after the Lokayukta police raided BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa and his son Prashanth Madal, which turned into a major embarrassment for the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka. Prashanth was arrested on March 2, whereas Virupakshappa secured anticipatory bail from the High Court before appearing before the anti-corruption agency.

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