Mahinda Rajapaksa's younger brother arrested on corruption charges

London: Basil Rajapaksa, the younger brother of Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been taken into custody on corruption charges.

Rajapaksa, who served as a minister for economic development under his brother, is being probed for misappropriation of state funds totaling 530,000 dollars in a scheme for the construction of public housing, reported the BBC.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also facing corruption charges along with another brother, Gotabhaya, has claimed that he and his family are the victims of a "witch hunt." He has also accused the authorities of making "wild allegations," without any evidence.

His successor, President Maithripala Sirisena, was elected in January on a pledge to fight corruption.