Karnataka MLA Chandru Lamani arrested for accepting ₹5 lakh bribe

Shirahatti MLA Dr. Chandru Lamani and two of his personal assistants were trapped by the Lokayukta Police while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh from a contractor in Laxmeshwar Town of Gadag district on Saturday (February 21, 2026).

Dr. Chandru Lamani allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹11 lakh for clearing a minor irrigation project. Class 1 contractor Vijay Pujar, from Chinchali village in Gadag taluk, complained to the Lokayukta Police.

On Saturday (February 21, 2026), at around 2:15 p.m., Dr. Lamani and his personal assistants, Manjunath Valmiki and Guru Naik, were trapped by the Lokayukta Police while accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh at Balaji Hospital in Laxmeshwar town.

When the Lokayukta Police conducted the raid, Dr. Lamani’s personal assistant, Guru Naik, reportedly threw away a cover containing ₹50,000 into the compound of a nearby private school. Along with the cover containing cash, the Lokayukta Police recovered ₹4.50 lakh in cash from the hospital.

The operation was carried out by DySP of Lokayukta Police Vijay Biradar, Inspector Paramesh Kavatagi and staff under the guidance of Gadag Lokayaukta SP Siddalingappa.

The Gadag Lokayukta Police have filed a case (Cr. No. 02/2026) under Section 7(a) read with the PC Act 1988.