Man posing as Molkalmuru MLA occupies Devadurga MLA’s seat during budget, detained

BENGALURU: In an apparent security breach inside the Assembly hall at Vidhana Soudha, an unidentified man was spotted sitting in the seat allotted to Devadurga MLA Karemma G. Nayak of JD(S) during the budget presentation on Friday.

Kariyappa (72), who claimed to be Molkalmuru MLA N Y Gopalakrishna, has since been detained by the Central Crime Branch police following a direction from Assembly Speaker U T Khader.

Gurumitkal MLA Sharangouda Kandakur complained to the Speaker that an unidentified person was seen seated in Karemma’s seat for about 15 minutes even as the budget was being presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

“I asked G T Devegowda, who was seated beside me, about the individual and he said he didn’t know. But the individual identified himself as the Molkalmuru MLA. Is this not a security breach?” Kandakur asked in his complaint to the Speaker.

The imposter, claiming to be Molkalmuru MLA N Y Gopalakrishna, even shook hands with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and shouted at the marshals. Following the revelation, Speaker U T Khader informed the Vidhana Soudha police and directed that a DCP conduct a probe.

Following this, joint commissioner of police (CCB) Sharanappa arrived at the Vidhana Soudha police station to question the imposter.