Why Corruption case quashed against former MLA?
Matal Virupakshappa was the Chairman of karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited. His son prashant is accused as A2 in this case. The Lokayukta police registered an FIR on march 2, alleging that he had received a bribe. Prasanth, who works as a financial consultant and chief accounts officer at the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, was allegedly bribed to release money for work at karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited or to run a tender in a specific manner. Accordingly, on march 2, 2023, the Lokayukta police arrested prashant red-handed for accepting a bribe of Rs.40 lakh. The police alleged that prashant had taken bribes on his father's behalf by misusing his father's authority.
Subsequently, around Rs 7 crore was reportedly seized during a raid at his house. During the raid, a video of the seized cash was also released and went viral. The court pointed out that Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which has been charged against Virupakshappa, refers to a public servant engaging in an illegal act in the discharge of duty. However, the court said that this was not proved and the complaint against the accused was vague.
The court also noted that even though Rs 6.1 crore cash was recovered during the search conducted at Prashant's house, no allegation was proved against the petitioner.