In a shocking turn of events, Munirathna, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Karnataka, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly threatening and using casteist slurs against a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor. The arrest came just hours after the contractor, Cheluvaraju, met with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and demanded legal action against the MLA.
Cheluvaraju had also alleged that the police were not taking any action despite the FIR being registered. Three others, including government officials, were also named in the FIR. The MLA was apprehended in Kolar and subsequently brought to Bengaluru where arrest formalities were completed.
According to the FIRs registered at the Vyalikaval police station, Cheluvaraju accused Munirathna of demanding ₹30 lakh as a bribe and threatening to terminate his contract if he refused to pay. The contractor further claimed that in 2021, Munirathna had demanded ₹20 lakh from him over a solid waste disposal contract. Despite making payment for 10 auto trippers for the waste management contract, the civic body did not sanction the vehicles, reported PTI.
In the FIR, Cheluvaraju alleged that the MLA repeatedly harassed, abused, and physically assaulted him. He further claimed that the MLA prevented him from executing his work and even slapped him in September 2023.
Meanwhile, citing a violation of party discipline, the state BJP has issued a show cause notice to Munirathna, demanding he clarify the allegations against him before the disciplinary committee within five days.
Cheluvaraju also alleged that due to the repeated harassment, he contemplated ending his life. The FIR was registered under the SC and the ST (prevention of atrocities) Act and other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police added.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to social media platform ‘X’ and alleged, “Leaders @BJP4Karnataka who talk about rituals and culture first clean the mouth of your MLA Munirathna and tell the town. BJP’s slogan that we are all Hindus is only limited to the election season.”
