Jharkhand is slowly but surely turning out to be a place where votes can perhaps only be purchased, and never earned!
Adding insult to injury and much to the discomfiture of the denizens, Ranchi Police on Sunday seized three bags full of currency from a hotel, meant to be distributed among the electorate to buy votes. Initial indications are that the money was to be used for Congress-backed mayoral candidate and incumbent Rama Khalkho, who has recently joined the party.
Sources present on the spot said a pre-poll meeting of Congress was going on at the hotel since morning when the police raided its premises. One person has been arrested. The room was found to be booked in the name of a local Congress leader and businessman.
Senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay and Khalkho were present, along with other party workers, at the meeting when police raided. The bags containing envelopes were filled with notes and had ward numbers written on them, supposedly to be distributed for ‘booth management’. According to an official record, total amount recovered was Rs 21.9 lakh. later, Congress leaders managed to sneak out of the backdoor as police arrived.
“Sahay, Khalkho, Sunil Sahay and others were present when the police came in, but they are not seen now,” said a hotel staff. The room had been booked early on Sunday.
“After getting information that money is being distributed for the poll at the City Palace Hotel under lalpur Police Station, we raided the premises and found two black bags with money from room number 205,” said City SP Manoj Ratan Chauthe.
“We have arrested one Sudheer Kumar Sahu, who was carrying the money. The room was booked in the name of Niranjan Sharma,” added Chauthe. later, one more bag was recovered during search from room number 203 after police broke open the lock.
Other materials to be used in the polls — pamphlets and other documents depicting Rama Khalkho — have also been seized.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) has demanded cancellation of the municipal elections and sought a judicial inquiry while the BJP has demanded immediate arrest of Khalkho.
The Mayor, however, has denied any connection with the money, saying the meeting was being held on the second floor, while the bags were found from the first floor.
Officials of the Election Commission and local administration were also called in to look into the matter.