Houses are inconsolable over BJP MLA K Gopalaiah’s life threat

On Wednesday, BJP MLA K Gopalaiah and his family members reportedly received a death threat from former city corporator SH Padmaraj, who was taken into custody.

The matter caused a stir among the Legislative Assembly. In the meanwhile, Padmaraj—who was freed on bond—made shocking claims that he had given Legislative Assembly Leader of Opposition R Ashoka Rs. 1 crore in exchange for the office of Bengaluru mayor.

Gopalaiah said to Kamakshipalya police that at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, he received a call from Padmaraj, the former corporator of Basaveshwara Nagar ward, who threatened to harm him and demanded that he return the money. In response to the allegation, Padmaraj was detained by the police after they filed a criminal intimidation and purposeful insulting charge against him.

He was then brought before a municipal court, which released him on bond. In April 2023, Padmaraj, a BJP employee who worked closely with Gopalaiah, joined the Congress.

“Suresh Kumar encountered a comparable hazard.”

Gopalaiah recounted the event before the Assembly, saying, “On Tuesday night, at around 11 p.m., Padmaraj called me while drunk and made a money demand. I soon went up to the local police inspector, the ACP, and the DCP. Even when the police showed up at his residence, he didn’t answer the door and made his getaway on Wednesday at ten in the morning.

According to Gopalaiah, the accused had threatened previous minister S Suresh Kumar with something similar. According to Suresh Kumar, Ashoka and he were Padmaraj’s victims. “His conceit is understandable. Clutched up in his home, the accused procured the support of certain influential people, Suresh Kumar added, accusing the police of being incompetent.

In a show of support for the opposition lawmakers, Speaker UT Khader threatened to suspend the jurisdictional inspector in the event that Padmaraj was not apprehended before nightfall.

Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara, a member of the Legislative Council, hurried to the Assembly and threatened to arrest the accused as pressure on the administration increased. He learned that the accused had been taken into custody while he was still speaking, and he made the announcement on the House floor.

As they were leaving the courtroom, Padmaraj said that he had not threatened Gopalaiah’s life. According to Padmaraj, he got into a fight with Gopalaiah over Rs 15 lakh that he had purportedly provided for some civil contract work.

He said that in 2010, when Padmaraj was a member of the BJP, he had donated Ashoka one crore rupees. “Ashoka accepted the money on the condition that I become mayor of Bengaluru.” However, it did not occur. The agreement was mediated by Mysuru MLA Nagendra. You might also ask him,” Padmaraj said.

Members of the Congress and BJP engaged in a contentious discussion over the matter even in the Upper House. MLCs from the opposition brought up the matter and asked that the home minister release a statement. BJP leader K Srinivas Poojary expressed dissatisfaction with the home minister’s response when RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge said that the minister had discussed it in the Lower House.