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Credit: PTI File Photo
Chennai: BJP candidate from Tirunelveli constituency, Nainar Nagendran, was embroiled in a raging controversy after Rs 4 crore in cash was allegedly seized from his relative and party worker, who also works in his hotel in Chennai, at the Tambaram railway station here.
The cash which was kept in suitcases were seized after members of the flying squad at the railway station grew suspicious about the activities of three people, including Sathish, a relative of Nagendran and a BJP worker.
Nagendran, a former AIADMK leader, is an MLA from Tirunelveli and is a leader of the BJP legislature party.
Police said the trio were to board the Nellai Express which runs from Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli. Sathish, Naveen, and Perumal had stayed in Hotel Blue Diamond in Chennai, which is apparently owned by Nagendran.
While Nagendran denied any link with the money seized, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo said the seizure will now be investigated by the Income Tax department as the money seized is more than Rs 10 lakh.
“…all the information related to the seizure has been sent to the Income Tax Department. Following this, the Income Tax Department will conduct a detailed investigation into the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK wrote to Sahoo alleging that the money was to be sent to Tirunelveli to distribute to voters of the constituency.
“We suspect that Nainar Nagendran stored several crores of money in secret places, to distribute to voters. He is indulging in large-scale corrupt practices, likewise, Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to distribute money to the voters in all constituencies wherever their candidates are contesting,” DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi said.
He also demanded that the ECI conduct searches at all places belonging to Nagendran.