Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Sep 21: In a new twist to the multi crore MLA ticket scam spearheaded by main accused Chaitra Kundapura, Pranav, Abhinav Halashree’s aide dropped a bag containing Rs 56 lac in cash at Halashree Math.
In a video message, Pranav said, “This bag belongs to Abhinava Halashree. This money was handed over to me by Raju, car driver of Halashree seer at my Mysuru office. I do not have information to whom this money should belong to. His father is residing at Hadagali Math and I am going there to handover the bag.
“Halashree gave Rs 60 lac. His driver took Rs four lac from the amount saying that it is lawyers’ fee and left Rs 56 lac in my office. As Halshree seer has not come to my office even after so many days, I am handing over the money to his father,” he said. Pranav also sent video of the bag kept in the math.
Pranav also wrote letter to CCB DCP-2 Abdul Ahmed. In the letter to DCP, Pranav said, “I am a lawyer by profession. I and my family members knew Abhinava Halashree Swamiji. Raju, Swamiji’s car driver, who used to come to our house along with the Swamiji, had come to my office four days ago. He had left behind a bag then. I thought it must be some luggage. Later, Raju called and asked me to handover the bag to someone in Mysuru. In addition, he also said that Swamiji asked him to handover the bag to some lawyer. But as that lawyer is not available, he has left the bag in my office. My family and I do not know about the business dealings of Swamiji. I have threat on my life and should be given police protection.”
The CCB police are tracing the root of this money and are interrogating Halashree seer on the matter. Sources said that Abhinava Halashree is saying that he has already returned Rs 50 lac to entrepreneur Govind Babu Poojary and also promised to pay the rest of the amount.
Halashree Swamiji is given to CCB custody by the court till September 29.