A contractor has lodged a formal complaint with the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner against Munirathna, the MLA for Rajarajeshwarinagar, alleging harassment and physical assault.
In the complaint, the contractor, Cheluvaraju, claims that in 2021, the MLA demanded ₹20 lakh for the provision of 10 auto tippers intended for waste management. Cheluvaraju alleges that he managed to raise the funds by selling his mother’s gold ornaments, but the necessary approvals from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) did not materialize.
Upon inquiring about the contract’s status, Cheluvaraju asserts that Munirathna presented a letter of recommendation he had sent to the BBMP Chief Commissioner. Following this interaction, he reportedly informed a former local councillor about the transaction, who advised him against any further payments to the MLA, offering to assist in securing the contract instead.
The complaint further details an incident where the MLA allegedly summoned Cheluvaraju to a meeting with other contractors and officials, during which he faced public humiliation. Although the MLA had also invited Cheluvaraju to his residence prior to the meeting, the contractor declined to attend.
Subsequent to the meeting, Cheluvaraju claims that Munirathna requested additional payments and even communicated his intentions to the BBMP regarding the cancellation of the tenders. When Cheluvaraju refused to comply, he alleges that the MLA assaulted him. The complaint also states that in 2024, Cheluvaraju received a phone call from Munirathna, which involved further verbal abuse. An audio recording of this phone conversation has been made public by Cheluvaraju.
Published – September 13, 2024, 11:09 PM IST
