Karnataka minister demands suspension of rape-accused BJP MLA Munirathna

Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil on Monday demanded the suspension of BJP MLA Munirathna after the police filed a rape case against him.
In his letter to Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader, Patil also requested the formation of an ethics committee to probe into the allegations and submit a report to the state Assembly.
“It’s essential to form an ‘Ethics Committee of State Legislature’. The behaviour of legislators inside and outside the Assembly should be monitored. Muniratna should be suspended and an Ethics committee be formed. The house should have zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour and evidently, the same is also expected by the people,” Patil said in his letter addressed to Khader.
On September 19, a case of rape, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation was registered against BJP MLA Munirathna and six others following the complaint of a 40-year-old woman who alleged that the incident took place at a private resort near Bengaluru.
“We received a complaint on Wednesday night and based on it, we have registered case against seven people, including the BJP MLA under various sections for rape by public servant, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, voyeurism, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, Information Technology Act, and others,” a senior police officer said.
The fresh FIR against the BJP MLA, also a former Minister, comes days after he was arrested by the Bengaluru Police in connection with the two cases filed against him for alleged harassment, threats and casteist abuse, police said.