Munirathna remanded intwo-day police custody

Bengaluru: BJP MLA from RR Nagar and former minister Munirathna Naidu, who was arrested from Kolar on Saturday, has been remanded to two days of police custody.He was produced before the magistrate in Yelahanka on Saturday night. Police asked for one week of custody, but the judge granted only two days.ACP Seshadripuram grilled him from Sunday morning till late evening. Two separate cases have been registered against him at Vyalikaval police station.According to a senior officer, Munirathna was subjected to questioning in relation to a complaint filed by BBMP contractor Cheluvaraju, 44.Besides Munirathna, he has also named the MLA's gunman Vijay Kumar, his personal assistant Abhishek, and his aide Vasanth Kumar as accused.Police have booked Munirathna for criminal intimidation, an attempt to extort by issuing threats to cause injury and cheating, based on Cheluvaraju's complaint.Naidu answered a few questions asked by the investigating officer and remained silent for other queries. He also stated that the cases registered against him are part of a political conspiracy.Police have collected the audio clippings in which Naidu has purportedly abused Cheluvaraju and demanded a bribe from him over garbage collection and providing vehicles. The clippings will be sent to the forensic science laboratory (FSL) to confirm if it is the real voice of Naidu. A senior police officer said they are yet to collect voice samples of Naidu. Once they collect it, they will be sending both the audio clipping and his voice sample to the FSL.A second complaint filed against Munirathna by a former BBMP corporator Velu Nayakar alleges he hurled casteist slurs at the latter and insulted the modesty of women members of the complainant's family.Naidu was produced before the magistrate at his residence in Yelahanka after a medical examination. He is lodged in Ashok Nagar police station.MSID:: 113371396 413 |Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and gift idea !