Did Expelled K'taka BJP MLAs Commit Rape in Vidhana Soudha?

Bengaluru, May 27 (NationPress) The Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and President of the state Congress, D.K. Shivakumar, stirred controversy on Tuesday following the BJP's decision to expel two of its MLAs. He stated that the two "did not commit rape in Vidhana Soudha".

Shivakumar pointed out that there are numerous FIRs and ongoing investigations involving various legislators. He accused certain BJP members of attempting to infect the opposition leader with HIV and of attempting to ensnare former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, yet no consequences ensued.

In a derisive remark aimed at the BJP, Deputy CM Shivakumar responded to a media query by referencing BJP MLA N. Munirathna, who had previously been arrested in a rape case.

The two expelled BJP MLAs reportedly have ties to Shivakumar.

Without directly naming Munirathna, Shivakumar stated in Kannada, "MLA S.T. Somashekar and MLA Shivaram Hebbar did not commit rape in the Vidhana Soudha. They have not injected HIV into victims. Did they commit any of these crimes? Let them keep 'Muttu, Ratna (pearl, gem)' with themselves."

Munirathna, the MLA from the RR Nagar Assembly constituency, recently secured bail and has been out of jail. However, an FIR was filed against him by the Karnataka Police on May 21, accusing him of orchestrating the gang rape of a party worker. The FIR includes charges under IPC Sections 376D (gang-rape), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage modesty), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), against Munirathna and others.

The Congress party has been vocal in demanding action against Munirathna from the BJP regarding this matter.

Deputy CM Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh viewed the recent Assembly election as a matter of prestige, aiming for the victory of Congress candidate Kusuma H. However, Munirathna won this constituency by a margin of 11,842 votes. Munirathna claims that Shivakumar is attempting to end his political career.

On Tuesday, the BJP's Central Disciplinary Committee expelled Karnataka MLAs S.T. Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar from the party for a duration of six years.

Both legislators had aligned with Congress leaders and publicly criticized the BJP and its leadership.

Somashekar represents the Yeshwanthpur Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, while MLA Hebbar represents the Yellapur constituency in Karwar district. Initially, both were part of Congress before joining the BJP in 2019 during 'Operation Lotus', and subsequently served as ministers in the BJP government.

Somashekar has openly pledged his loyalty to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, referring to him as his "godfather in politics". During the Rajya Sabha elections held in February 2024, Somashekar cross-voted while Hebbar abstained from the vote.