Sriramulu surrenders before court in poll code violation case

Former Karnataka minister B Sriramulu, who joined the BJP recently to contest Bellary Lok Sabha seat, today surrendered before a court here which had issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against him in a case relating to poll code violation during Assembly polls last year.

Sriramulu appeared before the Judicial Magistrate First Class and tendered an apology for failing to present himself before it earlier despite notices issued to him.

A case for violating the model code of conduct was filed against him during the May Assembly polls for conducting the campaign beyond the deadline, following which the court had issued notices to Sriramulu.

After Sriramulu's appearance today, the magistrate Zarina granted bail to him.

Sriramulu, a one-time close associate of mining baron Janardhana Reddy, had first announced merger of BSR Congress with BJP but after party leader Sushma Swaraj publicly opposed it, he joined the saffron party alone.