Madal Virupakshappa appears before Lokayukta police for questioning

BENGALURU: Channagiri BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, whose son Prashanth Madal was caught by the Lokayukta police with Rs 8.12 crore of unaccounted cash, appeared before the Lokayukta police late on Thursday afternoon. While granting him anticipatory bail on Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court had directed him to present himself before the Lokayukta police within 48 hours.

There was a bit of jostling when Madal Virupakshappa was entering the Lokayukta office.

Virupakshappa, who was accompanied by his son Mallikarjun, appeared before Deputy Superintendent of Police Anthony John, who is the investigating officer. As he was entering the Lokayukta office, his supporters had crowded at the gates and there was quite a bit of pushing and shoving.

Virupakshappa is being questioned in connection with the complaint filed by Shreyas Kashyap who had claimed that he was asked to pay Rs 81 lakh as bribe to secure a tender at Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KSDL) of which Virupakshappa is the chairman.

While denying any connection with the complainant and the other arrested accused, reportedly told the investigating officer that he does not know who the Rs 2.8 crore seized from his office belongs to. On the Rs 6.2 crore recovered from his son Prashanth Madal’s house in Sanjaynagar, Bengaluru, Virupakshappa claimed that it was the family’s money earned through sale of arecanuts.

Earlier, Virupakshappa met his lawyer Sandeep Patil at the latter’s office on Infantry Road to seek legal advice.