Who is Karnataka BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa & His Son Who ‘Accepted’ Rs 40L Bribe

Striking images of officials counting piles of cash have spelt trouble for the BJP in Karnataka ahead of assembly elections in the state. Lokayukta officials on Thursday arrested BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth Kumar for accepting a bribe of Rs 40 Lakh. What does the arrest mean for the party and who is Madal Virupakshappa and his son? Here is what we know.

BJP Channagiri MLA Madal Virupakshappa

Virupakshappa, a two-time MLA, began his political career with the Congress.

He had joined the BJP ahead of the 2004 Assembly polls, but it wasn’t until 2008 that he emerged victorious for the first time for the BJP.

Virupakshappa later followed BS Yediyurappa and joined his Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) party. After failing to secure a seat in the 2014 polls, he made a comeback in the BJP with Yediyurappa and won the Channagiri seat in 2018 on a BJP ticket.

Virupakshappa reportedly has three sons Madal Mallikarjun, Prashanth Madal and Raju Madal.

After battling heart-related disorders, Virupakshappa had decided to field his son Madal Mallikarjun from the constituency as a BJP nominee in upcoming Assembly polls. Mallikarjun is also a member of the Davangere University Syndicate. He has reportedly addressed public grievances in the constituency on behalf of his father and has identified himself as the successor of his father.

Virupakshappa is also the chairman of the state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures the famous soap brand ‘Mysore Sandal Soap’.

Following the arrest of his son Prashanth, he resigned from the post and alleged that there was a conspiracy being hatched against him and his family.

In the FIR that has been registered, Virupakshappa is the accused number one and his son is the second accused.

Prashanth Kumar Caught ‘Red Handed’

Kumar worked as the Chief Accountant of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). Prashanth Kumar, a 2008 batch Karnataka Administrative Services officer, was reportedly caught accepting a bribe from a contractor for awarding a deal to purchase raw materials required to manufacture soap and other detergents.

At least Rs 8 crore was recovered from Kumar’s residence during raids by Lokayukta officials.

Prashanth had reportedly demanded Rs 80 lakh bribe in connection with a tender process and was caught while accepting Rs 40 lakh at his office. Prashanth was allegedly receiving ‘first installment’ of the bribe on behalf of his father, according to Lokayukta sources, reports PTI.

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice (Retd) B S Patil said today Rs 2.02 crore was recovered from the KSDL office during the search and Rs 6.1 crore from Prashanth’s house, totally.

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