All major parties tried to distribute cash: Vijayawada police commissioner

VIJAYAWADA: City police commissioner Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao on Tuesday minced no words in saying that all major political parties did try and distribute cash across the commissionerate limits in the last two days.

Addressing a press conference, Tirumala Rao explained that out of the 24 seizures of Rs 17.4 lakh seized, 22 of them were pertaining to cash distribution to voters by ‘two major’ political parties.

Cops said that cases were booked against the respective party workers and other local leaders who were involved in the practice. As the election is less than 48 hours away, party workers have been indulging in cash distribution across Krishna district.

While the Vijayawada top cop did not take up the names of the parties, he did reveal the practice was prevalent in constituencies such as: Penamaluru, Gannavaram, Mylavaram, Vijayawada West and parts of Vijayawada Central regions.

“Our teams did foil a lot of attempts across the city commissionerate while political parties were trying to distribute the cash,” Rao said.

When asked about the modus operandi of the practice, Tirumala Rao explained that respective party workers compiled the lists of voters at various places and each voter were promised Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 depending upon their political demands.

Workers were also caught carrying small amounts in their pockets between Rs 45,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Overall, since March 11 till date, cops seized Rs 2.43 crore cash across commissionerate limits and registered 44 cases. Other seizures include 6 kgs of gold, 44 kgs of silver, sarees, cricket and other sports kits for youngsters.

In terms of any cases of dereliction of duty from the cops, the commissioner said that there were no instances of police inaction, however, stated that there was an instance where few political party leaders and workers misbehaved with their constable and a case in this regard was registered as well.