Bengaluru: Lokayukta Police yesterday arrested BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa in a corruption case, shortly after the Karnataka High Court rejected his bail application. The MLA was also the Chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd.

Virupakshappa was arrested near Kyathsandra toll booth near Tumakuru Road by the Lokayukta Police. Sources said he was travelling from Channagiri in Davangere district to Bengaluru.

Lokayukta Police started tracking Virupakshappa around 4 pm while he was in Chitradurga. They waited in five SUVs near the toll booth, sources added. The Police took Virupakshappa to Bengaluru where they will subject him to a medical test and complete the arrest formalities.

Virupakshappa was named as the prime accused in the case after his son and BWSSB Chief Accounts Officer M.V. Prashanth Kumar was caught allegedly accepting a Rs. 40 lakh bribe, allegedly on his behalf, last month from a Government contractor.

Lokayukta officials had seized Rs. 8.02 crore from Kumar’s office and residence in Bengaluru and the MLA’s residence in the Davangere district.

The bribe was meant to secure a tender to supply raw materials to Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd., said the Lokayukta Police, which was investigating the case.

Shortly after, Virupakshappa stepped down from the Chairman’s post.