Karnataka Lokayukta arrests BJP MLA in 5-lakh bribe case

Karnataka's anti-corruption agency, the Lokayukta, arrested Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Chandru Lamani on Saturday after catching him allegedly accepting a 5 lakh rupee bribe at his hospital in Laxmeshwar town, Gadag district. The payment formed part of an 11 lakh rupee demand linked to approving a minor irrigation department project, according to Lokayukta officials.

The operation stemmed from a complaint by Vijay Pujar, a Class-1 contractor from Gadag, who alleged that Lamani and his aides sought the bribe to clear construction work on retaining walls along both sides of a road. Lokayukta police verified the complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and set up a trap at Lamani's Balaji Hospital around 2:15 p.m. During the raid, officers recovered the 5 lakh rupees and detained Lamani along with two aides, Manjunath Valmiki, his government personal assistant, and Gurunaik, his private aide. All three were formally arrested following questioning and produced before a special court for people's representatives in Bengaluru.

Lokayukta sources described the action as a routine enforcement of anti-corruption laws, conducted under senior supervision to ensure...