BJP MLA Munirathna Naidu Arrested in Bribery Case

BJP MLA Munirathna Naidu has been remanded to two days of police custody following his arrest on charges of issuing death threats to a BBMP contractor, harassment for bribery, and using casteist slurs. He was apprehended while allegedly attempting to flee to Andhra Pradesh and was produced before a special court in Bengaluru, which granted police short custody despite requests for a week. Two FIRs have been filed against him, with key evidence including an audio recording in which he reportedly threatens and abuses the contractor, Cheluvaraju. Munirathna denies the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and that the voice in the recording is not his. The Karnataka Home Minister has stated that the arrest is lawful and not politically driven. The police plan to verify the audio against voice samples collected from Munirathna.