Bengaluru: In a major blow to the incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in poll-bound Karnataka, MLA Virupakshappa resigned after his son was caught red-handed allegedly while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh rupees on Friday.
Prashanth Kumar, son of the BJP MLA, was arrested by the state’s Lokayukta officials on Thursday. The Lokayukta team found an additional Rs 8 crore of cash from his residence during the raid.
The accused works as the Chief Accountant of the Bengaluru Water supply and Sewerage board. According to Police sources, Prashnath Kumar was arrested from Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) premises, which is a state-owned company. The company manufactures a popular brand of soap ‘Mysore Sandal Soap’.
After detaining Kumar, the Lokayukta Team also reached BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s house in Davanagere district.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Virupakshappa claimed that the raids were part of a conspiracy, which has nothing to do with him. He said, ” As a moral responsibility I am resigning from the post of KSDL chairman’.
Caught ‘Red-Handed’
Prashanth Kumar, a 2008 batch Karnataka Administrative service officer and BJP MLA son, was caught red-handed while ‘accepting a bribe’ from a contractor against awarding a deal to purchase raw materials required to manufacture soap and detergents.
