Karnataka High Court grants interim anticipatory bail to BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa in corruption case

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday granted interim anticipatory bail to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Madal Virupakshappa in a corruption case..Single-judge Justice K Natarajan granted the relief subject to him furnishing personal bail bond of ₹5 lakh.The Court also directed the MLA, who represents the Channagiri constituency, to corporate with the investigation.The case will be heard next on March 17.Virupakshappa moved the High Court in a case filed against him by the Lokayukta police.On March 4, a special court in Bengaluru had remanded five people, including Prashanth Madal who is Virupakshappa's son, to fourteen days of judicial custody for accepting a bribe..Prashanth, who is the Joint Controller of the State Accounts Department, was ocuppying post of Chief Accountant in the Bengaluru Jal Board. He was allegedly caught by the Lokayukta Police taking a bribe of ₹40 lakh to award a contract to supply chemicals to the Karnataka Soap and Detergent Factory (KSDL).The complaint was filed by one Shreyas Kashyap, who owns a partnership company called Chemicals Corporation in Bengaluru, after having successfully participated in the tender process in January 2023 to supply chemical oil to KSDL.Kashyap complained to the Lokayukta Police that the MLA and his son had demanded a bribe of ₹81 lakh to release the mandate and money.A case was registered against Prashanth and Virupakshappa under Section 7(a) and 7(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.The MLA is the first accused while son is the second accused in the case.Later, Prashanth and four others were arrested on bribery charges. All of them were produced before Judge B Jayanthakumar and sent to judicial custody on March 2. .“Lawmaker Virupakshappa is missing. A case has been registered against the remaining four accused under Section 8 of the PC Act. A total of ₹8.3 crore was found in the raids on Virupakshappara's residence in Bangalore and Channagiri, including ₹40 lakh in bribe money,” Lokayukta office sources had told Bar & Bench last week.Later, Virupakshappa moved High Court for anticipatory bail.