BJP ‘robbed’ Rs 12 lakh from cash seized in Dubbak, say cops

HYDERABAD: High drama unfolded in Siddipet on Monday ahead of the November 3 Dubbak assembly by-election with police accusing BJP men of robbing cash that was seized from the house of a relative of the saffron party’s candidate, M Raghunandan Rao. BJP cadres, however, alleged that police tried to plant the money in the house of Raghunandan’s father-in-law Gopal Rao.By late evening, Siddipet police commissioner Joel Davis issued a statement saying that of the Rs 18.67 lakh seized, BJP workers had ‘robbed’ Rs 12.80 lakh. “We have videos and those who stole the money will be arrested,” Davis said. “We will file criminal cases against them. Cases will also be filed for violation of model code of conduct.”Searches were carried out at three places and the money was found in Surabhi Anjan Rao’s house. The house of Siddipet municipal chairman Raja Narsu was also searched but no money was found.BJP workers, on the other hand, allege that they have video footage of a constable carrying a bag into Gopal Rao’s house at Lecturer’s Colony in Siddipet. The workers snatched the bag, forcibly opened it and alleged that they had found currency notes in them that were meant to be planted in the house.With serious allegations flying on both sides, Union minister of state for home and BJP’s Secunderabad MP, G Kishan Reddy, rushed from Hyderabad to Siddipet. BJP state president and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay, who was also on his way to Siddipet, was taken into custody.Davis told TOI that Raghunandan had come to the place with 250 of his supporters and nearly 20 of them had snatched the money which had been legally seized by the executive magistrate. He said ACP Siddipet and other official sustained injuries in the attack.The executive magistrate and tahsidar of Siddipet Vijay Sagar lodged a complaint with the Siddipet-1 town police blaming Raghunandan and his supporters. According to the cops, the cash was held by a head constable, Balaraju, after it had been seized and that Raghunandan jumped the compound wall and attacked him.Finance minister T Harish Rao addressing party workers late in the evening alleged that the police had caught the BJP trying to use money power. “Instead of cooperating with the police, allegations are being levelled against them. BJP is trying to gain some sympathy by enacting such dramas,” he said.Raghunandan’s wife Manjula, who had come to visit her parents, took strong objection to police entering the house to carry out searches. “They searched the house for three hours and found nothing,” she said. Those who came in did not even wear masks and instead covered their faces with handkerchiefs. They literally terrorised all of us for three hours,” Manjula said.“This is nothing but police raj,” Raghunandan said, alleging that the ruling TRS was making use of police against him.TRS MP Kothakota Prabhakar Reddy said the party would apprise the Election Commission about the behaviour of the BJP. Earlier this month police seized Rs 40 lakh from a vehicle at Shamirpet and those who were carrying it allegedly informed the police that it was meant for a relative of Raghunandan Rao.