Named in bribery case, Karnataka BJP MLA quits as chief of govt firm, ‘absconding’

Soon after the FIR was registered, Virupakshappa sent to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai his letter of resignation as chairman of the KS&DL. He is absconding, according to sources.

Besides Virupakshappa, the others named in the FIR are Prashant; Surendra, accountant at Prashant’s office; Siddesh, a relative of Prashant; and Siddesh and Albery Nicola, field workers at Karnataka Aromas Company.

During the investigation, searches were carried out throughout the night on the office and residential premises of the accused at Sanjaynagar, at houses at Shivananda Circle, on residential premises of the Dr Mahesh M, managing director of the KS&DL, on the office premises of the KS&DL and also in the home town of Virupakshappa.

Prashant was arrested allegedly while taking a bribe at his father’s office on Thursday.

The case was booked under 7 (a) (b) (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The sources said that Bommai insisted on Virupakshappa’s resignation from his post, the raids having come a day before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state.

Meanwhile, the Congress continued its attack on the BJP government, which it called the “most corrupt”. MLA Priyank Kharge said, “What more documents or evidence does the BJP need for the corruption in the government? The BJP MLA’s son has been trapped in the Lokayukta raid. We have also been saying that they are doing business sitting inside Vidhana Soudha. But they always demanded documents and evidence. Will the BJP answer now?”

Prashant is a graduate of the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru and lives in Sanjaynagar with his family.