Karnataka Minister Murugesh Nirani
Bagalkot:
Karnataka minister Murugesh Nirani, who is contesting the assembly elections from Bilgi constituency on a BJP ticket, was seized with 963 traditional silver lamps worth Rs 21.45 lakh from the factory staff quarter under Mudhol police station area on Friday.
The Minister of the Department of Large and Medium Enterprises has been charged under IPC section 171H relating to “illegal payment in connection with election”. “We have registered a case against Murugesh Nirani,” said a police officer at Mudhol police station.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena, Mudhol police have seized silver articles weighing 28 kg.
Meena told PTI-language, “The number of accused persons – one and others. Which political party is he associated with – BJP. Original place – Nirani Sugar Factory Staff Quarter.
The minister was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, the daily bulletin shared by the CEO’s office showed the cumulative seizure since March 29, when the model code of conduct came into effect for the May 10 assembly polls, reaching Rs 253 crore on Friday.
On Friday, silver, Rs 1.82 crore in cash, free Rs 37.64 lakh and medicines worth Rs 45.25 lakh were seized from Nirani’s sugar factory.
Cumulatively, Rs 82.05 crore, free goods worth Rs 19.69 crore, liquor worth Rs 56.67 crore, drugs worth Rs 16.55 crore, 145.55 kg gold worth Rs 73.8 crore and 610 kg silver worth Rs 4.28 crore have been seized in the poll-bound state.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)