Rs 1.63 lakh seized from former minister Nafees Fazal

Bijapur, Mar 1: Observers for elections to urban local bodies (ULB)?seized Rs 1.63 lakh from the possession of former minister and Congress leader Nafees Fazal in the city on Thursday.

Officials said the office of the State Election Commission received a phone call stating that the former minister was staying in a private hotel in the city for the last three days and distributing money to the party's candidates for the City Municipal Council elections.

Following this, a team of officials, including the observer for the ULB?polls Madan G?Nayak and district nodal officer Gangubai Mankar raided the hotel where Fazal was staying, along with the police.

On inspection, a sum of Rs 1.63 lakh - in packets of Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations - was found in her vanity bag. The Gol Gumbaz police seized the money and registered a case of violation of the model code of conduct for elections.

Fazal opposed the raid on the grounds that she had brought the money for paying advance money for the house she planned to rent in the city.

The former minister told the officials that she was a former minister and a prospective minister in future and hence, they should not treat her in this manner.

She demanded that the officials spare at least Rs 60,000, for the return journey to Bangalore, one of the officials said. Congress sources said Fazal was planning to contest the next Assembly elections on the party's ticket from Bijapur city constituency and hence, was visiting the city often.

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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