Karnataka BJP worker, two others indicted for illegally carrying Rs 2 crore cash

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Bangalore:

An FIR was registered against BJP office secretary Lokesh Ambekalu and two others on Sunday for illegally carrying Rs 2 crore cash in a car, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office said.

The Static Surveillance Team (SST) of Chamrajpet intercepted a car carrying Rs 2 crore cash here at 4.05 pm on Saturday and informed the Income Tax officials about the matter.

According to EC officials, the Income Tax department summoned the BJP officials and concluded that there was no violation of the Information Technology Act as the source of funds was legal. But as per ECI (Election Commission of India) directives, cash payments above `10,000 to party workers and candidate agents for political activities should be done through check or online.

Pollsters have also advised political parties not to carry large amounts of cash.

Since there was a violation of ECI instructions and failure to provide a list of recipients, it was suspected that the funds might be used to induce elections and an FIR was lodged under relevant bribery provisions of the Representation of the People Act and IPC and a case of undue influence was registered, the report said. .

“With court permission on Sunday, the SST of Bengaluru Central Assembly Constituency 168-Chamrajpet Assembly Constituency filed an FIR at Cottonpet police station against BJP state office secretaries Lokesh Ambekalu, Venkatesh Prasad and Gangadhar for illegally carrying Rs 2.0 crore in cash. ,” the pollster added.

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