Siddaramaiah, Cong leaders stage protest after Rs 6 cr found at BJP MLA’s home, detained

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Mar 04, 2023: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah demanded chief minister Basavaraj Bommai’s resignation after Lokayukta, the state government’s anti-corruption watchdog, arrested a state BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashant Madal after he was caught red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. Hours later, Lokayukta recovered Rs 6 crore in cash from the residence of the BJP MLA.

 

A political storm has erupted in Karnataka after the incident. Senior Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Randeep Surjewala, staged a protest outside the Karnataka CM’s residence and demanded his resignation.

 

#WATCH | Several Congress leaders including former CM Siddaramaiah detained by Police during their protest against the Karnataka govt in Bengaluru demanding the arrest of BJP MLA Maadal Virupaksha whose son was caught taking bribe pic.twitter.com/3x8aJsk3WU

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2023

The protesters wanted to gherao the CM’s residence but were detained by the police. All the Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah, were detained following the protest.

“We demand the CM’s resignation. He wanted evidence and now there’s corruption evidence. Also, a BJP MLA should have been arrested by now. We are protesting today about the same issue,” said the former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.

The Karnataka leader of the opposition added that, “The CM was lying that their government is corruption free. What is this happening then? We will take a decision today regarding this (Congress protest).”

Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, who was also a part of the protest, said, “They sold seats. They should be ashamed of these scams. BJP is saying that the son of the BJP MLA did wrong and not the MLA himself. How shameless.”

Facing heat from the anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta, Madal Virupakshappa resigned on Friday as the chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), the manufacturer of Mysore Sandal Soap.

Madal Virupakshappa is an MLA from Channagiri in the Davanagere district of Karnataka.

He is also the chairman of the state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited.

His son, Prashanth Madal, is the chief accountant at Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

Courtesy: India Today