BJP workers ‘seize’ cash

They say AIADMK trying to influence voters

BJP workers complain to the police about the alleged distribution of cash by AIADMK workers to voters at Kavundampalayam in Coimbatore on Sunday. Photo: M. Periasamy

The BJP said on Sunday that its workers seized cash from AIADMK volunteers allegedly distributing it in a residential locality to influence voters in the Mayoral by-election.

BJP district vice-president Mythili Vino told journalists that on a tip-off that the ruling party workers were distributing cash in a housing board unit at Kavundampalayam around 7 a.m., several BJP workers, including the mayoral candidate, R. Nandha Kumar, reached the spot and intercepted a vehicle.

“The AIADMK workers fled the scene. We apprehended four persons, and the vehicle had around Rs. 3,000 in cash and booth slips. They were handed over to the Thudiyalur police station,” she alleged.

There were also counterfoils from the Pollachi and Avinashi branches of a public sector bank for a recent withdrawal of Rs. 3 lakh, she said. She made several phone calls to an election official, who promised her that he would visit the spot; but he never turned up.

Mr. Nandha Kumar said a person warned him of dire consequences if he attempted to prevent cash distribution. “While I do not know who that person is, I can identify him. I have lodged a complaint with the Thudiyalur police,” he said. He displayed the cash and the booth slips that he said were seized.

Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister S.P. Velumani told

The Hindu that the charges were baseless. “Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has announced schemes worth Rs.2,378 crore for Coimbatore. The candidates of all Opposition parties will lose their deposits,” he said.

R.K. Rajan, chief agent for AIADMK candidate P. Rajkumar, said the Opposition parties were making false allegations.

Police deny charges

The district police have denied the BJP’s charges.

M. Ravishankar, Deputy Superintendent of Police of the Periyanaickenpalayam Sub-Division, told The Hindu that no money was found in the vehicle.

“Thudiyalur Inspector S. Saravanan inspected the car in the presence of BJP representatives, locals and others and found no cash. Thereafter, it was released. No case has been registered,” he said.

Mr. Ravishankar said the police did not receive any complaint from the BJP about the death threat to its candidate.

Charges false: official

An election official said that following a complaint made on the phone, an assistant returning officer was asked to inquire into the incident. A squad visited the spot and said the allegations were false.