Rs 1 crore illegal Hawala money seized in Hyderabad, two held

On credible information, the Task Force sleuths of Hyderabad police seized Rs 1 crore cash and arrested two persons from Dubbaka area in the city. The money was reportedly meant to be distributed to the voters ahead of the upcoming by-elections at Dubakka.

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad task force police on Sunday seized Rs 1 crore cash and arrested two persons from Dubbaka area in the city.

The accused have been identified as Surabhi Srinivas, the nephew of Dubbaka BJP candidate Raghunandan Rao and Ravi Kumar, a car driver.

Acting on a tip-off, the Task Force sleuths intercepted a car which was heading from Begumpet to Dubbaka and apprehended Srinivas, his driver.

During a presser here, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Anjani Kumar said, "Srinivas collected the money from Visakha Industries in Begumpet area. Former Peddapally MP, Viveka, handed over the amount to Srinivas to transport to Dubbak. The money is meant to distribute to the voters for the upcoming by-elections at Dubakka."

"We have seized the amount of Rs 1 crore and the arrested persons were handed over to Begumpet police for further action," he said.

Police also seized two mobile phones. It registered a case and took up further investigation.

The money was recovered shortly before the campaign was to end for the by-elections in Dubbak in Siddipet district.

This came barely six days after Rs 18.67 lakh cash was seized from the house of a relative of the BJP candidate in Siddipet. There was high drama as BJP workers who reached there along with Raghunandan Rao attacked the police and revenue officials coming out of the house and snatched Rs 12.80 lakh.

The BJP had alleged that the police planted money in the house to malign its candidate. Some party leaders were arrested after the incident which triggered tension in the town on October 26.

Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy had visited Siddipet the same night to call on the BJP candidate. He alleged that the TRS government hatched a conspiracy as it feared defeat at the hands of the BJP.

(With IANS inputs)