The Election Commission has filed 2,655 FIRs in various police stations of Karnataka under Section 171B of the Indian Penal Code relating to bribery in view of Rs. 24.52 crore cash, gift articles including saris and watches, and liquor seized during the run up to the just concluded Legislative Assembly poll in the State.
Informed sources said this was one of the highest numbers of FIRs registered by the poll body relating to bribe/inducement in any election to the State Assembly. Based on the view to be taken by the court, the Income-Tax authorities would do follow-up action to find out the source of such huge cash from the persons concerned, sources added. Besides cash, 11 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs. 7.79 crore, and gift items worth Rs.24.52 crore, that include saris, watches (worth Rs.4.52 crore) and other materials, were seized.
Regarding Rs.1.7 crore cash found in Bangalore on the premises of an astrologer who was frequented by top politicians of Karnataka, sources said the investigation done by the officials so far did not reveal any link between the money and any politician vis-à-vis inducement to the voters during poll.
