In Karnataka, Sri Ram Sene adds to BJP woes as it files PIL for CBI probe in MLA bribery case

Sri Ram Sene is known for raking up communally polarising issues and carrying out moral policing against inter-religious relationships in Karnataka.

The Sene filed the PIL in the high court Friday and the matter is yet to be listed for hearings by the court. Demanding a CBI probe in its plea, the right-wing outfit has alleged “bias” of the state Lokayukta police in refraining from arresting the ruling party MLA and letting him secure an anticipatory bail.

Virupakshappa, 72, is the prime accused in the bribery case in which Prashanth, a chief accounts officer at the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, was arrested on March 2 by the Lokayukta police while receiving a bribe of Rs 40 lakh from the owner of a private firm to clear contracts to supply raw materials to the state-run Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), of which the MLA was then chairman. An amount of Rs 6.10 crore cash was seized from Virupakshappa’s house while Rs 2.02 crore was recovered from Prashant’s possession.

Virupakshappa obtained anticipatory bail from the high court a few days after the Lokayukta police registered a case against him in the bribery case and arrested Prashanth, following which he resigned as the KSDL head.

Virupakshappa was appointed as the KSDL chairman in 2020 after Yediyurappa became the CM for another term in July 2019. A complaint of solicitation of bribes and corruption was filed by a businessman before the Lokayukta police against the BJP MLA, his son, and officials of private firms involved in allegedly paying bribes to obtain contracts to supply raw materials to KSDL. The businessman captured negotiations for payment of bribes on a camera on his smart watch.

Sri Ram Sene president Pramod Muttalik recently announced his plan to contest against the state energy minister and key BJP leader Sunil Kumar Karkala in the Karkala seat in the communally-sensitive coastal Karnataka district of Dakshina Kannada in the upcoming Assembly polls.

In the past Muttalik had threatened to contest against senior BJP leaders like Pralhad Joshi in the Lok Sabha polls.

Muttalik was set to be inducted into the BJP fold before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which was however rejected at the eleventh hour following an internal view that his criminal record and strident Hindutva credentials might damage the party.

The Sene’s PIL in the high court has been filed on behalf of its Davangere district unit president Manikanta K with Muttalik’s authorisation.

“The accused No. 4 is the MLA of the ruling party and the subsequent events of non-arresting of accused No. 4, though he was available at home as per his own statement and allowing him to secure bail, the change of Investigating Officers creates doubt in the mind of the general public about the manner in which investigation is conducted and shows that it is biased and the confidence of the people in the institution is weakened, hence, the petitioner is seeking CBI investigation in this case,” the Sene’s petition stated.

The outfit, which is perceived as being allied to the Sangh Parivar’s ideology, has said it has “no personal interest in this litigation and is not guided by self gain”, claiming that “there is no motive other than public interest in filing this petition”.

According to the Sene’s petition, it wants to “boost the confidence of the citizens of the country and the state in fighting corruption and for fair and transparent investigation and also increase the confidence of the public in the justice dispensing system which includes the police of the state”. The outfits plea states: “Corruption is a menace in society. It is a victimless crime. Society as a whole is a victim of this crime.”