Bangaru Laxman (17 March 1939 – 1st March 2014) was an Indian politician from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was President of party from 2000 to 2001 and a minister of state for railways in Government of India from 1999 to 2000. He was sentenced to four years in jail for defense deal corruption case.

Early life

Bangaru Laxman was born in a Madiga Dalit family in Andhra Pradesh. His father was Late B. Narsimha and mother was Late B. Shivamma. He did his BA and LLB in Hyderabad. His wife Susheela Laxman Bangaru was a member of 14th Lok Sabha. He was elected from Jalore constituency in Rajasthan as a candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party. He has 1 son and 3 daughters. He died on March 1, 2014 at the age of 74, owing to health.

Career

Laxman joined politics at a young age. He was jailed during emergency in 1975. He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1996. He has held many party positions including the party president. He was the first Dalit president of BJP.

At the age of twelve years, in 1953, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and held several organisational responsibilities at his tender age. and became active member of Jan Sangh Party in 1969. In the meanwhile he joined the government service in Electricity Department, in Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1958. He had his primary education in government high school in Nampally in Hyderabad and did B.A. from Osmania University. He also completed his L.L.B in evening college of Law, Osmania University in Hyderabad. He was actively associated with working class movement and headed trade union activities.

Controversy

Laxman was involved in a major controversy when a private TV network when Tehelka allegedly showed him taking bribes fromMathew Samuel on a hidden camera while he was the president of the BJP. He was convicted by a Special CBI Court on 27 April 2012 for taking bribe under Prevention of Corruption Act and was taken into custody.

Bangaru Laxman was convicted in defense deal Tehelka corruption case. Laxman was sentenced to 4-year rigorous imprisonment in prison for his crimes.

Laxman was sentenced to four years in jail on 28 April 2012. 72-year-old Bangaru, who was held guilty in the case, was produced from Tihar Jail before Special CBI Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora. Bangaru was convicted for taking bribe from fake arms dealer to recommend to the defence ministry to award them a contract to supply thermal binoculars to the Army. Soon after the judgment Bangaru Laxman resigned from the party's National Executive. He was granted bail under Justice A.K. Pathak with a bail bond of Rs. 50,000.

Death

 

Bangaru Lakshman died on Saturday 1st March 2014 due to prolonged illness and respiratory problems. He breathed his last at Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad in Hyderabad. He had recently came out on Bail due to health concerns.