Karnataka Minister Murugesh Nirani, who is contesting the Assembly election from Bilgi constituency on a BJP ticket, has been charged after 963 traditional silver lamps worth ₹21.45 lakh were seized from the factory staff quarters under Mudhol Police Station limits. The minister has been charged under Section 171H of the IPC related to “illegal payments in connection with an election.” According to the Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena, silver items weighing 28kg were seized by the Mudhol police. The cumulative seizure since March 29 when the model code of conduct came into effect for May 10 Assembly elections, reached ₹253 crore on Friday, including silver seized from Nirani’s sugar factory, cash, freebies, and drugs.
The Minister was not available for comment. Meanwhile, the daily bulletin shared by the CEO’s office showed the cumulative seizure since March 29 when the model code of conduct came into effect for May 10 Assembly elections, reached ₹ 253 crore on Friday.
On Friday, silver seized from Nirani’s sugar factory, ₹ 1.82 crore cash, ₹ 37.64 lakh freebies and drugs worth ₹ 45.25 lakh.
According to the news report, on Friday, 963 traditional silver lamps worth ₹21.45 lakh were seized from the staff quarters of Murugesh Nirani’s sugar factory. In addition, cash amounting to ₹1.82 crore, freebies worth ₹37.64 lakh, and drugs worth ₹45.25 lakh were also seized. This seizure was part of the cumulative seizure of illegal items since March 29 when the model code of conduct came into effect for the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka. The total value of the seizure has reached ₹253 crore as of Friday.
Cumulatively, ₹ 82.05 crore, freebies worth ₹ 19.69 crore, liquor worth ₹ 56.67 crore, drugs worth ₹ 16.55 crore, 145.55 kg gold worth ₹ 73.8 crore and 610 kg silver worth ₹ 4.28 crore have been seized in the poll-bound state. According to the information provided, a total of ₹ 82.05 crore cash, freebies worth ₹ 19.69 crore, liquor worth ₹ 56.67 crore, drugs worth ₹ 16.55 crore, 145.55 kg gold worth ₹ 73.8 crore, and 610 kg silver worth ₹ 4.28 crore have been seized in the poll-bound state of Karnataka since March 29 when the model code of conduct came into effect for May 10 Assembly elections.
