While agreeing to hear Karnataka Lokayukta plea against anticipatory bail to BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa in a corruption case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the urgency of hearing the matter and directed the listing of the matter at an early date.

Upon a mention for an urgent hearing, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul heading a bench also comprising Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Aravind Kumar questioned the urgency and ordered the listing of the matter “as early as possible”.

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The Karnataka Lokayukta has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order granting an interim anticipatory bail to BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa in a bribery case.

Earlier in the morning, senior advocate Basava Prabhu Patil, appearing for Lokayukta, mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud requested for an urgent hearing.

CJI Chandrachud agreed to list the matter on Friday (March 17).

As senior advocate sought an earlier date, if possible on Tuesday itself, the CJI pointed out that he is heading a constitution bench hearing on Shiv Sena related matters and asked him to mention the matter before Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul – the senior most judge after Chief Justice Chandrachud.

The court was told that the hasty grant of anticipatory bail to the accused MLA “sent a wrong signal”.

The matter is rooted in a complaint lodged before the Lokayukta Police alleging that Virupakshappa demanded illegal gratification to process a certain tender in Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd (KSDL).

Pursuant to the complaint, the Lokayukta Police registered an FIR for offences under section 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 against the BJP lawmaker in Karnataka assembly and others. Later, Virupakshappa’s son V. Prashanth Madal and other accused were allegedly caught red-handed accepting a graft of Rs 40 lakh.

It has also been alleged that over Rs 8 crore were recovered by the Lokayukta from the MLA’s son in the first week of March.

On March 7, a single bench of the high court allowed Madal Virupakshappa interim anticipatory bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 5 lakh.