14 feb 2012
Rs. 1 crore seized: President's son, Maharashtra chief minister in a spot
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| Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India |
Mumbai: Days ahead of the Municipal Corporation polls in Maharashtra, the state Congress has been caught in an embarrassing situation over the seizure of Rs. one crore cash by the police. President Pratibha Patil's son and Congress MLA Raosaheb Shekhawat has said that the money was meant for distribution among the financially-weak candidates for the local civic polls on February 16. But the BJP, which is in the Opposition in the Congress-NCP ruled Municipal Corporation, alleged that the Congress has put the money into circulation to influence voters before polls.
The state police on Saturday recovered Rs. one crore rupees from the Amravati district and arrested two Nagpur residents. The cash, recovered during night raids, was hidden in the bonnet of a car.
"I had sought funds from the state Congress Committee for distributing them among 87 party candidates as most of them are women and poor. Accordingly, Rs. one crore was sent to me
which was to be distributed at Rs. one lakh per candidate and the rest (of the money) was meant for the district Congress committee," Mr Shekhawat said.
The BJP has accused Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and the Congress for using cash to woo the voters.
"This money has been distributed under orders of Prithviraj Chavan, his party ministers distributed the money, also distributed it in Zila Parishad elections, crores were distributed," BJP President Nitin Gadgari said.
Although the Maharashtra Congress has claimed that the money was sent from the party fund and was not unaccounted for, the larger question which remains is - why is so much money being pumped in the civic elections?
The Congress claims that Rs. one lakh each was to be distributed to 87 financially weak candidates, contesting in the Amravati civic polls.
A claim that has not even convinced the Congress's own ally, the NCP, which says it will complain to the state Election Commission, which has already asked district collector Rahul Mahiwal and municipal commissioner N Navin Sona to inquire into the matter and file a report.
Oservers insist that money, black or white, running into tens of crores, is pumped to influence the voters, especially for the municipal elections in Mumbai.
"On the eve of the elections across Maharashtra, candidates often attempt to distribute alcohol and cash to sway voters," says Meera Sanyal, country executive, India, RBS.
The state police on Saturday recovered Rs. one crore rupees from the Amravati district and arrested two Nagpur residents. The cash, recovered during night raids, was hidden in the bonnet of a car.
"I had sought funds from the state Congress Committee for distributing them among 87 party candidates as most of them are women and poor. Accordingly, Rs. one crore was sent to me
which was to be distributed at Rs. one lakh per candidate and the rest (of the money) was meant for the district Congress committee," Mr Shekhawat said.
The BJP has accused Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and the Congress for using cash to woo the voters.
"This money has been distributed under orders of Prithviraj Chavan, his party ministers distributed the money, also distributed it in Zila Parishad elections, crores were distributed," BJP President Nitin Gadgari said.
Although the Maharashtra Congress has claimed that the money was sent from the party fund and was not unaccounted for, the larger question which remains is - why is so much money being pumped in the civic elections?
The Congress claims that Rs. one lakh each was to be distributed to 87 financially weak candidates, contesting in the Amravati civic polls.
A claim that has not even convinced the Congress's own ally, the NCP, which says it will complain to the state Election Commission, which has already asked district collector Rahul Mahiwal and municipal commissioner N Navin Sona to inquire into the matter and file a report.
Oservers insist that money, black or white, running into tens of crores, is pumped to influence the voters, especially for the municipal elections in Mumbai.
"On the eve of the elections across Maharashtra, candidates often attempt to distribute alcohol and cash to sway voters," says Meera Sanyal, country executive, India, RBS.
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