NEW DELHI: The Karnataka Lokayukta has approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's order on granting interim anticipatory bail to Madal Virupakshappa, BJP MLA from Channagiri constituency in a corruption case.
Appearing for the Lokayukta, senior advocate Basava Prabhu Patil mentioned the matter before a bench led by CJI D Y Chandrachud seeking urgent hearing, saying that HC's hasty grant of anticipatory bail to the accused MLA had sent a wrong signal.
The CJI initially posted it for hearing on Friday.
However, on a request by Patil, the court allowed him to mention before a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul as the CJI was to head a Constitution bench.
The counsel again mentioned the matter before the bench led by Justice Kaul, who fixed it for hearing as early as possible.
The court also asked him what was the urgency in listing the case.
The counsel replied that the accused is a sitting MLA and a large amount of money was seized from his possession and requested the court to hear the matter at 2 pm on Tuesday. The bench said the high court has already applied its mind and the matter will be listed in due course.
The MLA and his son, who worked as Chief Accounts Officer of the public sector Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd, caused huge embarrassment to the ruling party after recovery of Rs 8 Cr in cash in a raid.
The MLA came under the scanner of Lokayukta after a video of his son, Prashanth Madal allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh went viral on social media.
In his order, the Karnataka HC's Justice K Natarajan directed the ruling party legislator to appear before the Lokayukta police within 48 hours after receipt of the anticipatory bail order.
The court also directed him not to enter the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) premises and shall not tamper with evidence.
It clarified that the order would remain in operation till disposal of the anticipatory bail application. The court fixed the matter for further consideration on March 17.
Virupakshappa has resigned as the chairman of the KSDL with the lodging of an FIR by the Lokayukta police against him and his son Prashanth Madal.
Prashanth was apprehended by the Lokayukta police while accepting Rs 40 lakh bribe in connection with the award of a tender for supply of perfumery items to KSDL.
In a subsequent development, the Lokayukta police seized Rs 6 crore in cash during the searches at the house of Madal Virupakshappa.
Some reports claimed the Lokayukta had seized Rs 8.1 crore cash and 1.6 kg gold from the residences of Virupakshappa and his son, Prashanth Madal.
In his contention, Virupakshappa claimed that the allotment, acceptance of the tender and the issuance of the purchase order was done by a committee of which he was not a member.
There was no specific allegation against Virupakshappa to have taken illegal gratification either in the complaint or in the FIR, his counsel said.
In another plea, the MLA sought stay of the investigation and quashing of the proceedings against him.
On March 7, the Advocates Association, Bengaluru also wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud expressing shock and dismay over hearing within a day by the High Court on the anticipatory bail plea in the corruption case.
