Cong ready to sacrifice Mandya seat to JD(S); DKS’ announcement raises many eyebrows

TNN

February 26, 2019

Bengaluru, Feb 26: The Congress has decided to allow Janata Dal (Secular) to field candidate in the contentious Mandya constituency, according to Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar.

“The JD(S) has won in Mandya. Hence, the regional party itself will contest from the constituency,” Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar’s announcement caught many by surprise, especially the local Congress workers and leaders of Mandya, who have been trying to impress upon the state leaders to field Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of the late actor-turned-politician M H Ambareesh from the constituency.

Sumalatha herself has said that she was hoping to contest elections in Mandya on a Congress ticket, given that her husband himself was a Congress leader for several years.

Rumours were rife that the Congress might contest the JD(S)’s demand to field its candidate from Mandya, given that the rivalry between the parties is legendary in the Old Mysore region.

The JD(S) however has not budged from its stance, arguing that it has won all the seven seats in the district during the Assembly elections held last May.

The JD(S) leadership has zeroed in on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumar for Mandya.

Shivakumar also went on to add that the Congress would hold talks with Sumalatha and dissuade her from contesting the elections.

“There will be many opportunities for Sumalatha in politics. The party leaders will explain the situation to her and persuade her,” he added.

Shivakumar will fly to the business capital at 4.55 pm on Tuesday, where he will halt the night. The two-day conference is being held on January 16 and 17 in Aurangabad. The minister is scheduled to fly back to Bengaluru on January 17.

Shivakumar had on Sunday said he was aware that his party MLAs were lodged in Mumbai and that the party would take stock of the situation.

When asked about the latest developments, Shivakumar said his party, too, had some tricks up its sleeve. “All these days, we were not indulging in politics. Now we will,” he said.

Sources, however, said that the Congress had not asked Shivakumar to go bring the MLAs back. “There is no need for us to do that. The BJP does not have the adequate numbers. Shivakumar will of course be keeping an eye on the MLAs,” said a Congress leader.

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SIT raids rape accused BJP MLA Munirathna’s residence, 15 other locations

News Network

September 28,2024

Bengaluru, Sep 28: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing charges against arrested Karnataka BJP MLA N. Munirathna Naidu, including allegations of rape, honey-trapping, and other offences, on Saturday conducted raids at his residence and 15 other locations across the city.

Sources confirmed that the raids were taking place at his Vyalikaval residence and other properties owned by the BJP MLA. The operation is being conducted by the SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led by ACP Kavitha.

The team is examining documents, electronic devices, and other materials related to the rape and honey-trapping case. The SIT is being supported by experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), with Superintendent of Police (SP) Sowmya Latha also participating in the search and inspection at Munirathna’s Vyalikaval residence.

According to sources, the raids were triggered by information provided by the victim, who alleged that Munirathna recorded footage of sexual assaults and used it to blackmail politicians and public servants, including IAS and IPS officers.

The victim reportedly revealed that she was used to entrap the woman who had lodged a rape case against a senior IFS officer. She was allegedly instructed to frame the rape victim in a drug peddling case.

The complainant told police that she was tasked with capturing compromising videos of the rape victim who had filed the case against the IFS officer. She claimed that, after several failed attempts to obtain the videos, the victim was drugged with sleeping pills, and obscene footage was recorded without her consent. Later, the IFS officer was bailed out from the charges.

Furthermore, the complainant has accused MLA Munirathna of raping her at his office within the state legislature, in his official vehicle, and at his godown. She has alleged that he recorded videos of these assaults.

Police sources also revealed that the victim in the MLA's case provided details of a plot involving sending HIV-infected women to Munirathna's targets in an attempt to ruin them politically and personally. She also disclosed the names of several politicians whom she had entrapped through honey-trapping.

The woman further claimed that Munirathna had threatened to have her son kidnapped and killed if she refused to comply with his demands. According to her, the MLA had a well-organised team dedicated to carrying out these honey-trapping operations, and she provided details about his close associates and relatives involved in the scheme.

Munirathna, who was in judicial custody following his arrest in the rape and honey-trap case, has now been taken into the custody of the SIT.

The MLA was transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to the CID office on the night of September 24. The BJP legislator, however, has denied all the allegations, claiming they are false.

Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Suresh had alleged that Munirathna was trying to infect his adversaries with HIV and that the government should investigate the matter.

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