In a late-night operation, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Yashwant Gurukar apprehended two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers on May 8 for distributing money among voters in the Sangamesh colony of Kalaburagi South Assembly constituency.
According to multiple sources, Mr. Gurukar was informed about suspicious activity and immediately rushed to the spot without informing the police department. He discovered a group of people distributing money from cars in a dark area where streetlights had been turned off.
Credits – Deccan Herald
As the police approached the scene, the individuals giving out money immediately stopped and attempted to flee in their car. However, Gurukar chased and detained the vehicle, ultimately capturing two of the individuals involved. The primary suspect, however, managed to escape with a bag of cash.
“Unfortunately, we could not nab the main person, who escaped with a bag containing money. However, we were successful in nabbing the driver and one more person. We are checking CCTV footage to identify the person who escaped with the bag,” Gurukar stated in an interview with The Hindu.
In midnight chase, Kalaburagi DC nabs two BJP workers distributing money to voters
Both persons attempted to flee as soon as they saw Gurukar, but he chased down their car at the Central Bus Stand and arrested them https://t.co/AeXedTvNWv https://t.co/AeXedTvNWv pic.twitter.com/LQyIWisVZG
— زماں (@Delhiite_) May 9, 2023
According to local Congress activists, the person who escaped with the cash bag was Dattatreya Patil Revoor, an MLA and the Chairman of Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board who is also running for election on a BJP ticket.
The incident has drawn attention to the issue of vote-buying and the Election Commission’s attempts to curb it. With state assembly elections ongoing, the Commission has urged citizens to report any instances of voter bribery and promised swift action against offenders
