Daijiworld Media Network - Bellary (SHS/KK)
 
Bellary, Apr 12: The election officials on Saturday April 12 raided the house of private financier Babulal alias Chor Babulal and seized hawala cash worth Rs 8.52 crore.
 
The news was conveyed in a joint press meet convened by the deputy commissioner of Bellary and the superintendent of police.

Addressing the press they said, “We have conducted a raid on the private financier Babulal and seized hawala money worth Rs 8.52 crore that were in bundles of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes in many trunk, and a pamphlet that features pictures of Lok Sabha candidate B Sriramulu."

They also seized a post office deposit worth Rs 4.30 crore, cheques of various banks worth Rs 5 crore and documents pertaining to more than hundred acres of land.

The officials said that the money was brought ahead of elections to distribute it among the people. The Election Commission has issued a showcase notice to Babulal to explain why the money was stashed.
 
Police have filed a case under Section 171(E) of IPC against the Babulal on charges of collecting the hawala money.

"We have booked a case against Babu Lal and are interrogating him to ascertain the source of cash and cheques, as we learnt that the currency notes in trunks are intended to be distributed to voters in the elections next week," said Bellary additional superintendent of police C K Baba.

In a separate raid, the EC caught another financier Vikrama Jain and seized Rs 1.22 crore.

"Though both the recoveries are not related, we are trying to find out their source and for what or whom they are meant as the cash has not been accounted so far," Baba added.

Meanwhile, state Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told IANS that his officials were yet to confirm if the cash seized at Bellary-Hospet were connected with elections.

"I am waiting for a report from the district deputy commissioner (Amlan Aditya Biswas), who is the returning officer for the Bellary parliamentary poll. The cash haul, however, is the biggest till date in this election," Jha said.
 
Speaking to the media, B Sriramulu in Mysore said, "I have no connection with Babulal." He commended the election officials for raiding Babulal's house and said they had done an excellent job.

With IANS Inputs