Parties take hawala route to fund polls
Huge amounts of black money are being pumped into the constituencies headed for bypolls through hawala.
Sources say that at least Rs15 to Rs20 crore has been channelled by a political party to constituencies like Narsa-pur, Ramachandra-puram, Tirupati, Payak-araopet, Parakala, and Prattipadu; where tough fights are in the offing.
It has been alleged that political parties are usi-ng hawala operators to transport the money. Cash is handed over to the operators in Hydera-bad and within a few hours the amount is han-ded over to party candid-ates and their fund managers in the districts.
CEO tells police to intensify vigil
Political parties in the state are using hawala operators to transport black money for the upcoming bypolls. A code is given to the sender by the hawala operator, who passes it on to the recipient over phone.
The hawala operator in Hyderabad also gives the code to his counterparts in the districts. The money is handed over once the recipient gives the code to the hawala operator in the district.
Sources said that the code usually contains details of the amount.
Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal said: “The poll date is approaching and we have asked the police to step up vigil.”
So far, Rs34 crore in cash and gold worth `8 crore have been recovered in raids in 18 Assembly constituencies and the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency.
In the 2009 General elections, the totally money seized was `38 crore while it has already reached Rs42 crore for these byelections.
Bhanwar Lal, meanwhile, has alerted the West Godavari police on receipt of a complaint that money was being sent from Hyderabad to Narsapur for use in the elections.
State police sources said they had intensified checks by setting up posts at all entry and exit points. A senior official at state police headquarters said: “Hawala money is concealed in petrol tanks of vehicles, under the mats and also in the upholstery. It’s very difficult to detect.”
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