Karnataka: Former minister and BJP MLA Munirathna arrested
The BJP leader is accused of making death threats to a contractor and using casteist slurs against him
Muniratna was allegedly trying to flee to Andhra Pradesh when the arrrest happened.
Former minister and BJP MLA from Bengaluru’s Rajarajeshwarinagar constituency, Munirathna Naidu, was arrested on Saturday, after the release of an audio clip in which he allegedly issued death threats and made casteist remarks against a garbage contractor.
The arrest was made near Nangali in Mulbagal Taluk, Kolar, while Munirathna was allegedly fleeing Andhra Pradesh. An FIR had already been filed against him at the Vyalikaval police station in Bengaluru.
The audio clip, which reportedly features Munirathna verbally abusing Chaluvaraju, led to two FIRs being lodged against him. The clip allegedly includes offensive language directed at Dalits and women from a particular community, triggering outrage.
Hours before his arrest, Munirathna spoke to the media, claiming the accusations were politically motivated. He said Chaluvaraju had praised him just a month earlier and suggested that a conspiracy involving two communities was at play to damage his reputation.