Election officials seize huge sum of unaccounted cash from a bike and 2 cars in Jayanagar

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Two cars and a bike were seized by the election officials in Jayanagar in the city on Saturday and unaccounted cash worth crores of rupees was found in them.

It is gathered that a bag each containing cash was seized from the bike and the two cars. Five people in the cars managed to escape from the spot.

The Election Officers have brought the seized money to the police station and are counting it using counting machines. The details of how much money has been found are yet to be disclosed.

Nodal Officer Munish Moudgil, who reached the spot along with Flying Squad Team (FST) officials, informed that the election officials received an alert about money being transported.

Returning Officer Vinodapriya conducted a raid and seized the money. “Counting is still underway. There is more than Rs 1 crore cash. Police are verifying who owns the vehicles,” he said.

According to sources, the Income Tax Department officials have begun an investigation. The officials have reportedly identified that the bike belonged to one named Dhananjaya and the car belonged to a person named Somashekhar.

The documents in the car have also been confiscated by the election authorities, mobile phones and documents have been seized. Investigations are underway.

Meanwhile the Election Commission on Saturday said Rs 45.59 crore cash and alcohol worth over Rs 151 crore was seized and 1,650 FIRs with regard to seizures have been booked since the model code of conduct (MCC) came into effect on March 16.

The total seizures so far are worth Rs 345.89 crore, they said. According to a statement issued by the office of Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, since the MCC came into force, the flying squads, static surveillance teams and police authorities have seized Rs 46.59 crore cash, liquor bottles worth over Rs 151 crore, narcotic substances worth Rs 9.93 crore, gold worth Rs 56.86 crore and freebies worth Rs 7.73 crore among other seizures.

They have also registered 1,650 FIRs with regard to seizure of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metal and freebies.

The Excise Department has booked 2,086 heinous cases, 2,707 cases for breach of licence conditions, 123 (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) NDPS and 13,833 cases under Section 15 (a) of Karnataka Excise Act 1965 and also 1,263 different types of vehicles have been seized.