Chennai: The Congress workers are staging a protest demanding the BJP government to arrest BJP MLA Maadal Virupaksha whose son was caught red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakhs in Karnataka. Later, a search by Lokayukta at the premises of Prashanth Maadal, son of Maadal Virupaksha, also helped them recover Rs 6 crore.
During the protest, Siddaramaiah, LoP Karnataka said, “The CM was lying that their Govt is corruption free. What is this happening then... We never supported terrorism. Why Congress will support terrorism? Amit Shah is also a great liar. We will take a decision today regarding this (Congress protest).”
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Later, the police arrested several Congress leaders including former CM Siddaramaiah during their protest against the Karnataka government in Bengaluru.
On Thursday, Lokayukta caught Prashanth Maadal while he was receiving a bribe to clear a tender to supply raw materials for Karnataka Soaps And Detergents Limited. Prashanth's father BJP MLA Maadal Virupaksha was a member of the Karnataka Soaps And Detergents Limited board. Following the allegation, Maadal Virupaksha resigned from his post and alleged that there was a conspiracy surrounding his family. He also said that he was resigning under moral responsibility since there was an allegation against him.
Lokayukta also arrested Prashanth after recovering Rs 6 crore unaccounted cash while searching his office and residence.
However, the corruption charge on a BJP MLA during the runup for Assembly elections 2023 has come as an embarrassment to the BJP-led government. The Congress has also been criticising BJP as a party of 40 percent 'commission' and kickbacks in government tenders.