• Source:JND
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KARNATAKA Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Madal Virupakshappa was arrested on Monday in connection to a bribery case, reported the news agency ANI.

His arrest comes hours after Karnataka HC rejected his anticipatory bail application in a corruption case.

The BJP MLA was arrested while he was on his way to Bengaluru from Channagiri after attending an event. Virupakshappa, who had left Channagiri, was coming to Bengaluru just as the High Court order came out.

A Bench of the High Court had granted interim anticipatory bail to the BJP MLA, who was the main accused in the case.

On Monday, the High Court rejected the main petition filed by the MLA seeking bail.

Lokayukta police started searching for Virupakshappa soon after the High Court verdict was announced.

Several Lokayukta police had started a search, including a house in Bangalore and a house in Channeshpur (Madal) in Channagiri.

A team of Lokayukta police officials stopped the MLA's car near the Kyathsandra toll gate in Tumakuru. The BJP MLA was arrested and brought to Bengaluru.

Lokayukta sources said, "Preparations are being made to interrogate MLAs as there is a lot of information to be obtained regarding the case."

The Supreme Court on March 14 agreed to hear the Karnataka Lokayukta plea against the High Court's decision to grant anticipatory bail to BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa in a corruption case.

Anti-corruption branch of Lokayukta had arrested his son Prashanth Madal for bribery of Rs 40 lakh.

Initially, the lawyer mentioned the plea before the bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who asked the petitioner to go before another bench headed by Justice SK Kaul.

"The anti-corruption branch of Lokayukta caught Prashanth Madal, son of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. Over Rs 1.7 crore in cash was recovered from his office," Karnataka Lokayukta had earlier said.

Lokayukta was on duty after getting a complaint about the demand for a bribe. Over Rs 1.7 crore cash was found at Prashanth Madal's office, Lokayukta officials said.

(With inputs from ANI)