Daijiworld Media Network - Belgaum (SP)

Belgaum, Dec 16: The policemen here have seized over Rs 20 lac in cash belonging to the JD(S) and the vehicle in which the money was being transported, on the night of Sunday December 14. Three persons, Ashok Basappa Meesi from Kaujalagi, Mallikarjun Sangappa Rotti from Gokak Basavanagar and Chidanand Kadappa Tulasigeri from Chikkananandi were arrested. The names of Basavaraj K Matagar, JD(S) candidate from Hukkeri constituency and Aravind Mahadevappa Dalvai, candidate from Arabhavi constituency, have also been shown as the accused.

Based on a tip-off, the policemen checked the vehicle bearing registration No. KA 49-M-677 near the home of Basavaraj here and found unaccounted cash. The police sources claim, that the accused were taking the money for being distributed to the voters of Arabhavi and Hukkeri constituencies.

In the meanwhile, ex-premier H D Deve Gowda has said that the above money belongs to the party. "The party had sent the money to the above constituencies for election-related expenditure. It was not black money as being made out to be. We will request the election commission to return the same to us,"  he clarified.