Rajya Sabha polls on, but Election Commission gives Khuba FIR sting

BENGALURU: In a major decision, the Election Commission said elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka be held as scheduled on Saturday, but asked the CBI to probe the role of money power in these polls as well as allegations of cash-for-votes, reported by the media.

Though the Election Commission said allegations of money changing hands were not similar to the episode in Jharkhand- where Rs 2.15 crores was seized from a candidate’s car- and rescinding of the electoral process could not be recommended to the President, it took serious note of JD(S) MLA Mallikarjun Khuba’s statements, and ordered registration of an FIR against him and others. Reason: as a public servant he “may also be deemed to have committed an offence” under the Prevention of Corruption Act by seeking bribe for electing a member of the Rajya Sabha. Besides, the CBI should step in “for such deeper probe so that all those who may be involved in such nefarious activities are exposed and duly punished under the law.”  

Meanwhile, leaders of the ruling Congress pulled out all the stops to ensure a victory for all four candidates in polls to the Legislative Council on Friday.