Police seize truckload of cookers allegedly meant for voter appeasement

City police have seized a truck laden with cookers bearing pictures of Congress Women's Wing Chief and ticket aspirant from Belagavi Rural Assembly constituency Laxmi Hebbalkar, at Jadhav Nagar in Belagavi city here on Saturday.

Hebbalkar is accused of distributing freebies on the pretext of conducting competitions to residents of the rural constituency on behalf of the Harsha Sugar factory that is set to commence its crushing operation from the upcoming season.

But the distribution of cookers has drawn flak as rival parties have accused that Hebbalkar is distributing freebies to appease voters ahead of the elections.

BJP leader Anil Benake complained to the city police that Hebbalkar was distributing cookers in the truck to appease voters.

Interestingly, the truck was parked at stone's throw distance from District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner S Ziyaullaha's residence at Jadhav Nagar in the city.

The police immediately rushed to the spot and confiscated the truck and the cookers.

Heated arguments ensued between BJP leader Benake and Channaraj Hattiholi, the younger brother of Hebbalkar who is also the managing director of Harsh Sugars. The former accused the Congress leader for indulging in election malpractice. Hattiholi claimed he had bills and documents to prove that goods were legal.

"We have stopped distributing cookers after the model poll code came into effect. BJP leaders are making false allegations. It is unfortunate that police of working at the behest of BJP workers and seized the goods in spite of producing enough documentation to prove that the goods in the truck belong to a private factory," Hattiholi said.

It may be recalled that Laxmi Hebbalkar had unsuccessfully contested from the constituency and from Belagavi Parliamentary constituency last elections. The police who have confiscated the goods and the truck are verifying the documents.