BENGALURU/TUMAKURU: Former deputy chairman of NRI Forum in Karnataka VC Prakash was questioned by Delhi police on Tuesday in connection with the alleged bribery case related to getting twin-leaves AIADMK symbol for AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran.
Sources said Prakash, also known as ‘Australia Prakash’, had lived in Australia for two decades and is said to be close to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.
He was questioned after Delhi police reportedly found him to be associated with Mallikarjun, a close confidant of Dhinakaran. Delhi police had earlier registered a case against Dhinakaran and his associates.
Prakash was unavailable for comment.
When reporters asked Parameshwara about the arrest of Prakash, he said, “I have many close friends. What do you mean by close confidant? I can comment only after ascertaining the details of the issue. The police have acted in accordance with the law and the law will take its own course.”
A lesser known name in public
Prakash Veerapura Channappa is a relatively unknown name in the district but Australia Prakash is a well-known figure in political circles. Prakash is a native of Veerapura, a remote village in Madhugiri taluk. His father Channappa was a farmer and mother Puttatayamma lives with him in Bengaluru.
His father-in-law ‘Rice Mill’ Chikkanna’s popularity helped Prakash as he used to allegedly operate from the rice mill during elections to help Parameshwara win from Madhugiri constituency. He also took care of the poll expenditure, a Congress leader said.
After completing a diploma in engineering, he migrated to Australia where he ran businesses. He befriended Parameshwara as the latter completed his PhD in Australia.
With Parameshwara representing Madhugiri in the Assembly, their relationship grew strong and in 2013 he was made the deputy chairman of NRI Forum Karnataka. The Chief Minister is the chairman.
Over time, however, his relationship with Parameshwara strained as the minister kept him at bay fearing his meddling in affairs, said an aide of Parameshwara.