BJP MLA Munirathna charged with rape, transmitting dangerous disease

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka police has charged BJP MLA Munirathna with rape, voyeurism and attempting to spread dangerous disease. 

The MLA, currently out on bail, was booked by the police after a 40-year-old social worker accused him of repeated rape between 2020 and 2022 and forcing her in partaking in criminal conspiracies. 

She also alleged that the MLA honey-trapped politicians, and in some instances, used women who were infected with HIV on his rivals. This is among the four cases being probed by the SIT. 

According to well-placed sources, the SIT investigation found proof to substantiate the charges levelled by the survivor.  In its 2,481-page charge sheet, the SIT has named Munirathna, Ayyanna Reddy, the arrested inspector of Hebbagodi police station, and the MLA’s two associates, P Srinivas and Sudhakar. 

The SIT probe had found that the inspector had devised a plan to inject HIV-infected blood into senior BJP leader and the current Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka. The probe further revealed that the conspiracy was hatched in 2020 but wasn’t successful and Munirathna was present during the deliberations, while Srinivas and Sudhakar aided him. 

The SIT has invoked IPC sections 376(2)(n) (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman), 354A (sexual harassment ), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 354C (voyeurism) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) and relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act in the charge sheet filed before the Special Court for MLAs/ MPs (CCH-82), the source quoted above said.

Last month, the SIT filed another charge sheet related to the MLA hurling casteist abuses. According to the SIT, the MLA’s voice sample matched the voice — through a detailed analysis by the FSL — in the viral audio where the casteist remarks were made. 

In the viral audio, Munirathna had hurled casteist abuses against former BBMP corporator Velunayakar during a conversation with BBMP contractor Chaluvaraju, on whose allegations of criminal intimidation the first FIR was registered by the Vyalikaval police.