Hyderabad: The election eve in Telangana has witnessed several incidents of alleged cash distribution across Hyderabad. The Nampally police said they have registered a case against Feroz Khan, the Congress candidate from the Nampally Assembly constituency, for allegedly trying to distribute money to voters.
Based on a complaint of the flying squad, the case was registered under sections 171(E) (punishment for bribery) and 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the IPC and under relevant sections of the Representation of the People Act, the police said.
Khan was accused of giving Rs 1 lakh to a person for distribution among voters in the constituency to allegedly induce them to vote in his favour, the police said.
Goshamahal MLA and BJP candidate T. Raja Singh claimed that Goshamahal BRS candidate Nand Kishore Vyas ‘Bilal’ was distributing money to the voters.
“BRS supporters admitted to possessing amounts up to Rs 30,000 and demanded an inquiry into the cash found in Nanda Kishore's office. I urge the Hyderabad Police Commissioner and election officials to thoroughly investigate the matter,” demanded Raja Singh
In Madhura Nagar, Congress workers alleged that the BRS workers were distributing money. They claimed that Rs 25,000 was in possession of GTS temple chairman Chinna Ramesh. Congress supporters protested, alleging police inaction, while BRS activists also protested, resulting in both groups being chased away by the police.
Further, the Election Commission of India suspended excise inspector A. Anjith Rao of Warangal Urban who was caught in Chengicherla, Medipally near Hyderabad, with Rs 6 lakh, and later it was found that he was allegedly distributing cash to the voters.
Videos of BRS members distributing money, compelling voters to swear allegiance to vote for the car symbol, reportedly took place in Cheelapur village of Puduru mandal in Vikarabad district, were widely circulated on social media platforms.
In a separate case, Raidurgam police of Cyberabad commissionerate seized Rs 1. 68 crore in two cars during vehicle checks in Khajaguda. The police suspect the cash belongs to a Congress candidate outside Hyderabad. The seized cash has been handed over to the income-tax department for a further probe.
