Karnataka: Former CM Siddaramaiah detained while demanding BJP MLA's arrest
What's the story
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and several other Congress leaders were detained by the police on Saturday while staging a protest against the state government in Bengaluru, India TV reported. Notably, they were demanding the arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Madal Virupakshappa, whose son was caught accepting a Rs.40 lakh bribe by the state's anti-corruption division of Lokayukta on Thursday.
Twitter Post
Watch: Congress holding protest against Virupakshappa
Demanding arrest of @BJP4Karnataka MLA Madal Virupakshappa, involved in a corruption case, @INCKarnataka today staged massive protest in #Bengaluru. @indiatvnews #Lokayukta pic.twitter.com/gwetxUsf2e
— T Raghavan (@NewsRaghav) March 4, 2023
Bribery case
Rs. 6 crore recovered from MLA's residence
Virupakshappa's son Prashant Madal was arrested after he was caught red-handed taking a bribe of Rs. 40 lakh. Hours later, Lokayukta recovered Rs 6 crore in cash from the residence of the BJP MLA. After the incident, Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Randeep Surjewala, staged a protest demanding the resignation of CM Basavaraj Bommai. However, all of them were detained.
Statements
MLA should have been arrested by now: Congress
During the protest, Siddaramaiah said, "We demand CM's resignation. He wanted evidence and now there's corruption evidence. Also, a BJP MLA should have been arrested by now." "The CM was lying that their government is corruption free. What is this happening then?" he added, as reported by India Today. Meanwhile, Virupakshappa resigned as the chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) on Friday.