KSDL bribery case: BJP MLA’s son Prashant Madal denied bail after police cite attempt to swallow proof

In the course of Prashant’s bail petition hearing, the Lokayukta police informed the court that he was not cooperating with investigators and had tried to swallow a chit with names to destroy evidence. The Lokayukta police opposed the bail plea citing the need for further investigation into the bribery scandal at the KSDL during the period of Virupakshappa’s chairmanship.

“I am of the considered opinion that since the investigation is not completed, it is not safe to release the accused No.2 on regular bail,” the special court ruled on Monday.

The court, however, granted bail to S Surendra, an accountant at Prashant’s private office who allegedly put the bribe money received by Prashant in a car.

On March 27, the Karnataka High Court had dismissed Virupakshappa’s bail plea after the Lokayukta police produced material to show his direct involvement in the bribery and corruption at KSDL, which he headed till March 3.

The Lokayukta police told the high court and the special court that the KSDL managing director had given a statement about Prashant’s active participation in the tender processes at KSDL, at the instance of the MLA, despite Prashant being an employee of another government department.

A businessman, Shreyas Kashyap, who is a partner in a firm called Chemixil Corporation, told the Lokayukta police in February this year that he was asked by Virupakshappa to pay a bribe of Rs 1.2 crore to be cleared for a contract to supply 5,100 kg of Guaiacwood oil, and 29,520 kg of Abbalide, as raw materials to KSDL.

The businessman alleged that he struck a deal for payment of a bribe of Rs 81 lakh for the award of supply contracts to two firms – Chemixil Corporation and Delicia Chemicals – with an initial payment of Rs 40 lakh to Prashant.

The negotiations for the bribe payments with the MLA’s son were reportedly recorded on a smartwatch camera by the businessman to prove that it was a genuine case of corruption.

The Lokayukta police laid a trap on the basis of Kashyap’s complaint and Prashant, a Karnataka Administrative Services official and the chief accounts officer of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, was caught red-handed by the police on March 2 allegedly while accepting an initial bribe amount of Rs 40 lakh.

A total amount of Rs 2.02 crore of bribes from KSDL suppliers was allegedly found in Prashant’s possession when he was caught at his private office in central Bengaluru while an amount of Rs 6.10 crore was seized from the residence of Virupakshappa, a close associate of former Karnataka BJP CM B S Yediyurappa.

The Lokayukta police investigation has found that KSDL awarded contracts for the supply of raw materials at over 50 per cent profit margins to firms run by Prashant’s friends.

The Lokayukta police have accused officials of a firm identified as Karnataka Aromas Ltd of paying bribes to the tune of Rs 90 crore to be given supply contracts by KSDL. Two field employees of Karnataka Aromas Company – Albert Nicola and Gangadhar – are among the six people named in the bribery case registered by the Lokayukta police against Virupakshappa and Prashant.