BJP MLA Munirathna and six others booked for alleged sexual harassment case

RAMANAGARA: A case of alleged sexual harassment has been registered against Rajarajeshwari Nagar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former minister Munirathna Naidu and six others at tge Kaggalipura police station in Ramanagara district on Wednesday night. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed under IPC Sections 354A, 354C, 376, 506, 504, 120(b), 149, 384, 406, 308.

Apart from Munirathna, six other individuals have been charged in the case, including Vijay Kumar, Sudhakara, Kiran Kumar, Lohit Gowda, Manjunath and Loki. As per the complaint, the incident happened at a private resort under the limits of Kaggalipura police station.

Munirathna is currently in the custody of Bengaluru police for allegedly threatening a contractor. The Special Court of People’s Representatives will hear his bail plea in this regard today. Munirathna is likely to be detained near the jail if bail is granted as he is in judicial custody. However, if the bail is denied, the Kaggalipura police will file a body warrant and take him into custody as per the procedure.

The complainant leaving the Ramanagara SP’s office on Wednesday night after registering a complaint.

Munirathna was taken into custody on September 14 night by Bengaluru police for allegedly threatening a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor. According to Kolar Superintendent of Police (SP) B Nikhil, Munirathna was taken into custody by Bengaluru police with the help of Kolar police while he was travelling to Andhra Pradesh. He was taken into custody near Kolar.

Police has registered two FIRs at the Vyalikaval police station against Munirathna. The cases stem from complaints lodged by contractor Cheluvaraju, who has accused Munirathna of harassment and threats. The first case involves issuing a death threat, with four individuals named in the FIR including Munirathna, V G Kumar, Abhishek, Vasanth Kumar. The FIRs include charges under Sections 37, 506, 505, 385, 420, and 323.

Cheluvaraju has alleged that Munirathna threatened him by saying, “What happened to Renukaswamy will happen to you”. He claimed that the MLA had demanded a commission in connection with a contract. According to the contractor, he offered Rs 1 lakh, but Munirathna refused and insisted on the full amount.

The contractor further alleged, “MLA Munirathna has threatened me to pay Rs 20 lakh. If I don’t pay, he said the same fate as Renukaswamy will happen to me”. He also accused Munirathna’s elder sister’s son of being involved in the murder of Renukaswamy.

An audio clip had also gone viral, allegedly featuring Munirathna using abusive language and threatening a Dalit person, the contractor, and his wife. (ANI)