Contractors’ Assn Prez Kempanna arrested and released on bail

Bengaluru, Dec. 25: Five office-bearers of the Karnataka Contractors’ Association including President D. Kempanna who was issued Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) following civil and criminal defamation case filed by Horticulture minister Munirathna, has been granted bail.

In August, the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association named and accused Munirathna, of allegedly demanding bribes from contractors. Kempanna had allegedly accused Munirathna of instructing an executive engineer to collect money from contractors and threatening him with suspension from duty if he failed to comply.

High drama prevailed on Saturday night as Karnataka State Contractor’s Association, including its president D. Kempanna, who has been at the forefront of the fight against the alleged

The police arrested Kempanna, vice-presidents R. Ambikapathy and V. Krishna Reddy, treasurer H.S. Nataraj, and organising secretary B.S. Gurusiddappa of the association. The arrests were made executing the non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against them by VIII ACMM Court hearing a criminal defamation case filed by Minister of Horticulture, Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Munirathna over corruption allegations made by Mr. Kempanna and others against him.

All the five who were arrested were produced before the magistrate at his residence. The magistrate granted them bail, following which they were released.

In August 2022, Mr. Kempanna had without naming Mr. Munirathna said the district in-charge Minister of Kolar had been threatening officials to collect and get him money. Mr. Munirathna, who initially gave a seven-day ultimatum to furnish evidence to back the claim, later filed a civil defamation claiming Rs. 50 crore in damages and a criminal defamation case against Mr. Kempanna and 18 other-office bearers of the association.

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