In a huge blunder for the BJP in Karnataka ahead of the State polls later this year, Lokayukta officers; the state’s appointed body tasked to investigate complaints, generally on behalf of individuals such as consumers or taxpayers, against institutions such as companies and government departments, conducted a raid at the home of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, seizing hidden assets and cash amounting to an estimated Rs. 6 Crores on Friday, March 3, 2023.

The raid was conducted a day after a sting operation yesterday(Thursday; March 2, 2023) that bore witness to MLA Virupakshappa’s son being caught red handed accepting a 40 Lakhs bribe at the office of his father’s  Karnataka Soap and Detergents Limited office, reportedly  on behalf of his father. After which, an extended raid was conducted that led them to recover 3 bags loaded with cash amounting to a combined total of Rs 1.75 Crores.

MLA Virupakshappa distanced himself from the case, denying any knowledge on the matter. He refused  his involvement in his son’s ploy and claimed to not have kept in touch with him for some time.

“The anti-corruption branch of Lokayukta yesterday caught Prashanth Madal, son of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. Over Rs 1.7 crore in cash was recovered from his office,” the Karnataka Lokayukta said.

The officers revealed that they had conducted the inital raid at the behest of a complaint against the Channagiri MLA’s son, Prashanth Madal, a 2008-batch Karnataka Administrative Services officer, asking for Rs 81-lakhs( of which Prashanth was arrested accepting 40 lakhs)  as bribe from the contractor to allow a deal for raw materials needed to manufacture soap and other detergents.

Speaking on the matter, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai talked about an independent investigation in the matter. Also throwing slight jabs at the opposition Congress during his statement, “We have re-established Lokayukta to curb corruption. During the Congress regime, with Lokayukta dissolved, a lot of cases were closed. We will investigate the cases which were closed. Lokayukta is an independent institution and our stand is clear. The institution will investigate independently and we will not interfere in it,” he said.

The ruling BJP’s continued efforts to maintain their right to rule with appearances from party big shots including frequent appearances Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party chief JP Nadda has also suffered a major setback due to the now rising allegations of the state government’s corruption and misdeeds.