During the election period, the cash distribution is common in Telugu states to buy votes. As per media studies, the politicians in Telangana had spent as much as Rs 5,000 crore in the Assembly elections in 2018. Rs 2,000 notes were given in many Assembly segments to each vote.
The same trend is going on in the Dubbaka Assembly seat by-elections. Cyberabad police seized Rs 40 lakh cash at Shamirpet (on the outskirts of Hyderabad) and confirmed that the unaccounted money belongs to Raghunandan Rao, senior BJP leader, who is declared as MLA candidate for the byelection in Dubbaka of Telangana.
Investigation revealed that the unaccounted cash was meant for distribution during the by-election. Acting on a specific intelligence report, Cyberabad cops stopped a vehicle on Hyderabad Ring Road and seized the cash. Four persons were caught transporting the cash. The police said, “The driver of the car stopped his vehicle and a man with a bag was found getting off, he ran towards ORR and jumped from the railing. The police chased him and caught him with a bag carrying Rs 40 lakhs.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Balanagar, P.V. Padmaja said, “On the behest of Raghunandan Rao, his assistant Rachamalla Santosh Goud and all the four accused persons attempted to transport cash. According to their plan, the money was meant to be handed over to a close relative of Raghunandan Rao at Siddipet for distribution in Dubbaka by-election.” The accused were not carrying any receipts of withdrawals to prove that the money of Rs 40 lakh is for a legitimate purpose.
TRS MLA Ramalinga Reddy had succumbed due to cardiac arrest following Covid-19 infection in August 2020 and hence a by-election was declared for the seat.
The TRS announced the name of Ramalinga Reddy’s wife Sujatha as its candidate. The BJP announced Raghunandan Rao as its candidate. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate.