Telangana assembly elections 2018: Rs 51 lakh seized from TRS candidate kin

HYDERABAD: Income tax (I-T) department sleuths seized 51 lakh from the farmhouse of Kodangal TRS candidate Patnam Narendar Reddy's brother-in-law, Seri Sridhar Reddy, in a search operation on Wednesday. The cash was allegedly meant for distribution in the ensuing assembly elections.


With this, the total quantum of cash and valuables seized in searches and inspections by I-T and police departments so far this election season in Telangana has touched Rs 104.4 crore.

According to Telangana chief electoral officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar, if there is credible information, searches will be conducted on any candidate irrespective of the party, including Gajwel TRS candidate and CM K Chandrasekhar Rao's farmhouse.

"Out of Rs 104.4 crore seized, around 88 crore is in cash, Rs 8.8 crore is by way of liquor and Rs 7.5 crore is in gold, silver and ganja. So far, we have not been able to trace the origin of the money and link it to politicians in most cases. However, EC has instructed the agencies to focus on the money trail and trace the origin.