Date:05/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/05/stories/2008050561120400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rs. 41,000 cash seized from BJP youth leader

Staff Reporter

It is a conspiracy hatched by the Congress: M.G. Balakrishna

BANGALORE: The Magadi Road Police on Sunday seized Rs. 41,000 in cash from BJP Yuva Morcha’s city unit vice-president, M.G. Balakrishna, which was allegedly kept for distribution among voters in a slum.

They have registered a case in this regard.

The seizure followed tension at Chamundi Slum, near Rajajinagar 6th Block, in the afternoon with Congress workers alleging that BJP workers had distributed money.

However, the police intervened and brought the situation under control. The police have registered the case under Section 171 (e) of the Indian Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Mr. Balakrishna lodged a complaint with the Magadi Road Police saying Congress workers had damaged his car.

BJP leaders also said that the seized money was meant for Mr. Balakrishna’s personal use.

In a statement, Mr. Balakrishna said that it was a conspiracy hatched by the Congress candidate.

He said he was preparing voter slip for the Rama Mandira ward at the house of his party worker Dharman when the Congress candidate G. Padmavathi’s son and his associates forcibly entered the house and manhandled him.

They also snatched the cash from his pocket and threw the currency notes all over the house, Mr. Balakrishna said.

He claimed that part of the money was personal and the rest was meant for payment towards printing expenses of the party literature.

Arrested

Meanwhile, the MICO Layout Police on Sunday arrested four persons on the charge of preparing fake voters’ identity cards and seized a laptop and other material.

The names of the arrested were given as Raghavendra, occupant of the house, his employees, Suresh and Shivakumar, and an autorickshaw driver, Dinesh, according to the police.

The police said they raided Raghavendra’s house located at Balajinagar in BTM Layout on specific information and found out that the accused were preparing to fake the cards. The police said they also seized campaign literature belonging to the BJP from the house.