The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations of gangrape against BJP MLA Munirathna Naidu and his associates on Wednesday filed a closure report before the court, citing insufficient evidence to substantiate the charges, according to official sources.
The SIT on Wednesday informed a special court that the complaint filed in May was found to be false.
The case pertains to the First Information Report (FIR) registered by RMC Yard police station in Bengaluru on May 20, 2025, based on the complaint of a 40-year-old woman, who alleged that Munirathna orchestrated her gang rape by his associates at his office in June 2023, subjected her to degrading treatment, including urination on her face, and allegedly injected her with AIDS virus. The woman reported being hospitalised in January 2025 after discovering she had contracted a virus, which she attributed to the alleged assault that happened two years ago.
The accused were booked under multiple serious charges, including Indian Penal Code Section 376D (gangrape), 270 (malignant acts likely to spread dangerous infections), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and several other sections related to IPC.
The case was transferred to the SIT that was already probing multiple allegations against Munirathna after several victims came forward publicly with their complaints.
Following an investigation, SIT filed a ‘B’ report before the special court for elected representatives in Bengaluru, indicating that the allegations could not be proven due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Munirathna claimed vindication through the closure report. “After Dr C N Manjunath won from Bengaluru Rural in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, cases were filed against me,” he stated, suggesting political vengeance behind the allegations.
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“Making women file false complaints must stop. Nobody is permanent. Don’t use women for your selfish interests. God will protect me,” Munirathna said.
Despite this closure report, Munirathna continues to face legal challenges in other cases. The SIT has already filed two charge-sheets and a supplementary charge-sheet against him in separate matters, both filed in September last year. One case, registered in Kaggalipura police station, Ramanagara district, involves rape charges under Section 376(2)(n) of IPC and other charges.
Additionally, the SIT had filed another charge-sheet concerning allegations that the MLA hurled casteist abuses, demonstrating the wide range of accusations that have been levelled against him.