A team of officials, led by election observer Madan Nayak, on Thursday raided a hotel room here of a Congress leader and former Minister Nafisa Fazal, confiscated Rs. 1.60 lakh in cash and booked a case of violation of the model code of conduct.
For distribution?
According to the officials, Ms. Fazal had allegedly brought the money to distribute it among the voters in the urban local bodies elections scheduled to be held on March 7. The case was registered at the Gol Gumbaz police station.
Conspiracy
Later, addressing a press conference, several Congress leaders, including Ms. Fazal, condemned the act stating that it was conspiracy on the part of her political opponent to malign her image.
Without warrant
She said that over 20 officials suddenly barged into her room at 11 a.m. and forcibly entered the bedroom without search warrant and seized the money. “They were so rude; they did not show me any search warrant or their identity cards. They simply said that they were election officials and took away the money which I had brought for my personal use. Can’t I carry the amount?” she asked.
Ms. Fazal, who burst into tears, asked how 20 men could enter the bedroom of a woman without knocking on the door.
She added that she felt embarrassed and insulted by the turn of events.
Congress leader and Babaleshwar MLA M.B. Patil termed the incident as politically motivated and misuse of government machinery.
Demanding an explanation from the officials, he said that the party would file a complaint before the State Election Commission.
