The trial in the graft case of KGF MLA Y. Sampangi is inching closer to orders. On Monday, the Lokayukta special court concluded recording of witnesses in the first-ever case of allegedly trapping an MLA red-handed while accepting a bribe in the state.
The court will hear the case again on May 2 when the accused, Mr Sampangi, would be examined under Section 313 of the CrPC. The court is also likely to fix the date for argument in the case on that day.
On Monday, the court recorded the deposition of Lokayukta officer Parameshwarappa. Senior counsel Sundareshan, arguing for Mr Sampangi, cross-examined Mr Parameshwarappa and the court closed the recording of witnesses. Mr Sampangi was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh (Rs 50,000 in cash and Rs 4.5 lakh in cheque) at the Legislator's Home in January 2009. The complainant, Hussein Mueen Farook, a businessman, had lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta police, saying Mr Sampangi had demanded money from him to extend help in a civil dispute. Mr Farook had approached Andersonpet police station sub-inspector, who refused to register a case.
The trial began in September last year and Mr Sampangi had obtained bail. But the court cancelled his bail and remanded him to judicial custody on October 28 after Mr Farook filed an affidavit stating that the MLA was threatening him and pressuring him to turn hostile in the case. He also said several false cases were foisted against him and other witnesses to harass them. Special court judge N.K. Sudhindra Rao allowed a fresh bail application from Mr Sampangi only after Mr Farook and shadow witness in the case, Arun Kumar, deposed before the court.