Munirathna
{{short description|Indian politician and film producer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Munirathnam Naidu
| honorific_prefix =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Munirathna
| birth_date = 23 July 1964
| birth_place =
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office2 = Cabinet Minister
Government of Karnataka
| term_start2 = 4 August 2021
|term_end2 = 13 May 2023
| 1blankname2 = {{centre|Ministry}}
| 1namedata2 = {{centre|Term}}
| 2blankname2 = Minister of Horticulture
| 2namedata2 = 4 August 2021 - 13 May 2023
| 3blankname2 = Minister of Planning, Programme Monitoring & Statistics
| 3namedata2 = 4 August 2021 - 13 May 2023
| office3 = Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly
| term_start3 = 13 May 2013
| term_end3 =
| constituency3 = Rajarajeshwari Nagar
| predecessor3 = M. Srinivas
| successor3 =
| party = Bharatiya Janata party
{{small|(2019–present)}}
| otherparty = Indian National Congress
{{small|(till 2019)}}
| spouse = Manjula
| children =
| website =
| footnotes =
| year =
| occupation = Film producer, politician
| education =
}}
Munirathna Naidu, known mononymously as Munirathna is an Indian film producer-turned-politician{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/270418/can-munirathna-naidu-beat-incumbency.html|title=Can Munirathna Naidu beat incumbency?|first=Shashiprasad|last=SM|date=27 April 2018|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|accessdate=28 July 2019}} from Karnataka who served as the Minister of Horticulture and Planning, Programme Monitoring & Statistics of Karnataka from 4 August 2021. Member of the BJP, he was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka from Rajarajeshwari Nagar in the years 2013, 2018, 2020, and 2024. {{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/rr-nagar-bypoll-incs-munirathna-set-to-retain-crucial-seat-contractor-turned-politico-overcomes-vokkaliga-challenge-4489435.html|title=RR Nagar bypoll: INC's Munirathna set to retain crucial seat; contractor-turned-politico overcomes Vokkaliga challenge|website=Firstpost.com|date=31 May 2018|accessdate=28 July 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/live-updates-rr-nagar-election-result-2018/articleshow/64394065.cms|title=RR Nagar election result 2018 live updates: Congress candidate Muniratna wins by 41162 votes|date=31 May 2018|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=26 May 2020}}
Notable films produced by Munirathna include Aunty Preethse, Raktha Kanneeru, Anatharu, Katari Veera Surasundarangi and Kurukshetra.{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/munirathna/filmography.html|title=Check out lists of Movies by #Munirathna #Filmography|website=FilmiBeat.com|accessdate=28 July 2019}}
Controversies
In December 2014, Lokayukta police recovered 1016 BBMP files related to Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency from Munirathna's house in Vyalikaval.{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/450894/i-am-ready-face-cbi.html|title=I am ready to face CBI probe, says RR Nagar MLA Muniratna|date=1 January 2015|newspaper=Deccan Herald|accessdate=4 August 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/450899/lokayukta-cops-seek-info-vyalikaval.html|title=Lokayukta cops seek info on Vyalikaval house|date=1 January 2015|newspaper=Deccan Herald|accessdate=4 August 2019}}
In March 2018, Munirathna was named in a {{INR}}1500 crore BBMP fake bill chargesheet by the Crime Investigation Department.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/rs-1500-cr-bbmp-fake-bill-scam-cong-mla-munirathna-naidu-named-cid-chargesheet-77856 |title=Rs 1,500 cr BBMP fake bill scam: Cong MLA Munirathna Naidu named in CID chargesheet | the News Minute |access-date=4 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804105603/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/rs-1500-cr-bbmp-fake-bill-scam-cong-mla-munirathna-naidu-named-cid-chargesheet-77856 |archive-date=4 August 2019 |url-status=dead }} In the chargesheet, Munirathna, who was working as a civil contractor in 2008–09, was found "colluding with BBMP officials and swindling [money] by executing poor quality road work."{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/mla-munirathna-3-others-chargesheeted-in-fake-bill-scam/articleshow/63260353.cms|title=MLA Munirathna, 3 others chargesheeted in fake bill scam |newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=4 August 2019}}
Days before the 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election in May 2018, Bangalore Police booked a criminal case against Munirathna after the Election Commission found around 10,000 fake voter ID cards in an apartment in Jalahalli.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/karnataka-elections-rr-nagar-congress-mla-13-others-booked-in-fakevoter-id-card-case/articleshow/64116526.cms|title=Karnataka elections: RR Nagar Congress MLA, 13 others booked in 'fake' voter ID card case |newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=4 August 2019}} As a result of this scandal the election in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency was postponed to 28 May, with Munirathna emerging victorious.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/rr-nagar-polls-congress-wins-by-41162-votes201805311406120001/|title=RR Nagar polls: Congress wins by 41162 votes|website=Aninews.in|accessdate=4 August 2019}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/nation/2019/jul/24/the-15-mlas-who-brought-down-kumaraswamy-government-102416.html|title=The 15 MLAs who brought down Kumaraswamy government|newspaper=The New Indian Express|accessdate=28 July 2019}}
Muniratna was arrested for issuing a death threat, sent to police custody. {{cite web |last1=Muniratna |title=Karnataka BJP MLA, arrested for issuing death threat, sent to police custody |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/karnataka-bjp-mla-munirathna-arrested-for-issuing-death-threat-sent-to-police-custody-2600063-2024-09-15 |website=India Today |language=en |date=15 September 2024}}
Filmography
- Aunty Preethse (2001)
- Raktha Kanneeru (2003)
- Anatharu (2007)
- Katari Veera Surasundarangi (2012)
- Munirathna Kurukshetra (2019)
References
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Karnataka
Category:Kannada film producers
Category:Indian film producers
Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Karnataka
Category:Karnataka MLAs 2013–2018