K’taka: Man killed in blast near Cong MLA’S residence

NEW DELHI: Cash, drugs, liquor and precious metals worth Rs 3449.12 crore were seized by enforcement agencies since the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 10, the Election Commission said on Sunday.

The seizure is nearly three times the figures of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the figures show.

In 2014, the overall seizure was Rs 1,206 crore, Director General (Election Expenditure) in the EC Dilip Sharma told a press conference.

Between March 10 and May 19, Rs 839.03 crore in cash, liquor worth Rs 294.41 crore, drugs worth Rs 1270.37 crore, precious metals, including gold, worth Rs 986.76 crore and "freebies", including sarees, wrist watches, aimed at inducing voters worth Rs 58.56 crore were seized, he said. The total comes to Rs 3449.12 crore. BENGALURU: A 45-yearold man was killed in a blast caused by a chemical near the residence of Congress MLA Munirathna at the posh Vyalikaval locality here Sunday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Venkatesh, a washerman of the same locality, and his body was mutilated in the explosion that took place at about 9.30 am.

Citing initial findings of the forensic experts, police said the blast was caused by a chemical used for cleaning plastic floor or plastic moulding. ".. There is nothing to be scared of.. It's a unique case.. It is restricted to a very local phenomenon," Deputy Commissioner of Police D Devaraja told reporters here.

However, he refused to either disclose the name of the chemical or how the blast occurred.

A blue plastic packet was found at the spot, he said.

The police would book a case under the Explosives Act and investigate why it was brought to that place, he added.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar who visited the spot said, "A crater has been formed at the place where the blast took place.. A person has been killed. Our investigations are on."

Following the incident, police cordonned off the area.

Reacting to the blast, MLA Munirathna said it would be wrong to jump to any conclusion until the probe was over because it gives room for unwanted rumours.