9 arrested as Kerala BJP hit by election hawala scandal
THRISSUR: Kerala police on Monday nabbed nine persons from Ernakulam in connection with the looting of hawala money brought by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegedly to ‘buy votes’ during the April 6 legislative Assembly elections through a stage-managed accident.
According to reports, seven persons are directly involved in the incident while two others helped the culprits. Police Superintendent G Poonkuzhali said that the political links to the case will be investigated.
Shajeer, a native of Kozhikode district, had filed a complaint with the police that a fake accident was staged in Kodakara near here on 3 April and the miscreants fled with the car and Rs2.5 million.
Police have identified 10 accused in the case, out of which five belonged to Thrissur.
One of the three cars of the accused was also taken into custody. All men were members of a gang that specialised in robbing hawala money in transit. They are currently being interrogated.
The incident took place while the car was on its way from Kozhikode to Ernakulam.
According to media reports, the district leaders of the national party conspired to fake the accident and there was Rs35 million in the car.
However, the FIR registered by police does not mention the name of the political party.
Also the complainant told media persons that only Rs2.5 million was looted.
The passenger of the vehicle registered complaint that Rs2.5 million brought for the purpose of real estate business was robbed.
But the police preliminary investigation found that the vehicle carried Rs35 million unaccounted money which belonged to a national party and was brought for election purposes.
However, police remained tight-lipped regarding the outcome of the probe.
An incriminating SMS from a BJP leader referring to staging the road accident as part of robbery was retrieved.
As soon as the vehicle with money took off from Kozhikode, the BJP state leader tipped off the district leader, who quickly set off to the party office, and arranged accommodation for the gang at nearby lodge.