BJP MLA Chandru Lamani gets bail in ₹5 lakh bribery case

Bengaluru : The Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru on Tuesday granted conditional bail to BJP MLA Chandru Lamani, who had been arrested by the Karnataka Lokayukta police in connection with an alleged bribery case.

Lamani, who represents the Shirahatti Assembly constituency in Gadag district, was arrested on charges of accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh from a contractor. The legislator had been in judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison for the past 15 days.

The Special Court for MPs and MLAs granted bail after hearing a petition filed by Lamani’s legal team. The court directed the MLA to furnish a personal bond of ₹2 lakh along with two sureties as part of the bail conditions.

According to investigators, Lamani was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting the bribe from a contractor on February 21. The operation was conducted by the Lokayukta police following a complaint that the MLA had demanded money in connection with official work.

Officials said the anti-corruption agency had laid a trap after receiving credible information about the alleged demand for bribe.

Following his arrest, Lamani was produced before the court and later remanded to judicial custody. The case drew significant attention in political circles, particularly in Gadag district, where the MLA enjoys considerable local support.

Soon after the arrest, supporters of Lamani and members of the Banjara community staged protests in Laxmeshwar town, alleging that the MLA had been targeted as part of a political conspiracy.

Several community leaders claimed the case was fabricated to tarnish Lamani’s reputation. Some supporters even alleged that political rivals were behind the complaint, though no evidence has been officially established in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Lokayukta police have maintained that the case was registered based on a formal complaint and evidence collected during the trap operation.

Legal experts say that granting bail does not affect the ongoing investigation and that the case will continue in court.

The development has provided temporary relief to the BJP legislator, but the bribery case is expected to proceed through trial as the anti-corruption agency continues its probe into the allegations.