Karnataka BJP MLA Munirathna Sent to 14-Day Judicial Custody in Rape Case

Bengaluru : A court in Bengaluru on Saturday remanded BJP legislator N. Munirathna Naidu, representing the R.R. Nagar constituency in Karnataka, to 14 days of judicial custody. Munirathna was arrested in connection with a rape and honey-trapping case.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) produced Munirathna before the court as his police custody ended. He will now be held at the Bengaluru Central Prison until October 19.

Munirathna’s legal team requested permission for home-cooked meals while he is incarcerated. The court advised his counsel to approach the jail authorities for further action on this matter.

The FIR against Munirathna was filed by the Kaggalipura Police in Ramanagara district following a complaint by a woman social activist. According to her complaint, Munirathna took her to his godown in Mutyalanagara and raped her. The victim further alleged that Munirathna recorded the incident and threatened her, warning of severe consequences if she revealed the matter. She claimed that she was coerced into honey-trapping individuals at various private resorts under his direction.

The woman stated that Munirathna had threatened to kill her if she didn’t comply with his demands for honey-trapping others. The Kaggalipura Police registered a criminal case against him on September 18.

In response to the allegations, Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Suresh accused Munirathna of attempting to infect his rivals with HIV, urging the government to thoroughly investigate the matter. Suresh stated, “Munirathna was leading a group conspiring to infect adversaries with HIV, and the government must look into the entire network.”

The SIT, which is investigating the charges of rape, honey-trapping, and other related offences, conducted raids last Saturday at Munirathna’s residence and 15 other locations across the city. The team is examining documents, electronic devices, and other evidence, with support from experts at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Superintendent of Police (SP) Sowmya Latha participated in the raid at Munirathna’s residence in Vyalikaval.

Sources indicated that the raids were prompted by information provided by the victim, who alleged that Munirathna recorded footage of sexual assaults to blackmail politicians and public officials, including IAS and IPS officers.

Initially, Munirathna was arrested on charges of issuing life threats and making derogatory remarks against the Dalit community. He was transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to the CID office on the night of September 24. Despite the mounting accusations, Munirathna has denied all the allegations, calling them baseless and false.