Karnataka High Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Channagiri BJP MLA Virupakshappa Madal, who is the main accused in the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents (KSDL) contract scam. His son, Prashanth Madal, a KSAS, was arrested by the Lokayutka police on 2nd March while allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs. 40 lakhs on behalf of his father.
The anticipatory bail for MLA Madal was granted by the single-judge bench of Justice K Natarajan which heard the petition. Virupakashappa Madal had resigned as chairperson of KSDL following his son’s arrest.
While granting conditional bail, the HC directed the MLA to appear before the investigating officer in the case with 48 hours of receiving the order copy. The anticipatory bail was granted subject to a bond of Rs.5 lakh. Madal was also directed not to tamper with the witness while on bail. The hearing of the petition was adjourned to 17 March.
Madal’s petition claimed that he had no role to play in the alleged bribery case and he has been falsely implicated in it. The alleged scam relates to the supply of chemicals to KSDL in which Madal allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs.81 lakh. His son was allegedly caught while receiving Rs.40 lakh of this bribe on his behalf.
Following the arrest of Prashanth Madal, the Lokayukta police conducted further search operations in the home and offices of the Madals and recovered over Rs.8 crore in cash.
Speaking to media persons in Davanagere after getting the bail Madal defended himself saying that he owned 150 acres of areca farm, two crushers, and a pan masala factory, with this kind of business, it is common to keep such money.