300 criminal cases filed in K'taka for violating poll code

Bangalore, Apr 16 (UNI) As many as 300 criminal cases have been filed for violation of the model code of conduct ever since the Karnataka Assembly election schedule was announced by the Election Commission, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer M N Vidyashankar informed today.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that in Mandya, the district police have seized Rs 3.21 crore in cash from a person and the case had been handed over to Income Tax authorities. In Davanagere, police have seized as many as 9,000 sarees from a house, which were allegedly stashed for distribution during polls.

Mr Vidyashankar said the EC had issued notices to Congress leader and former Karnataka Minister Srinivasa Gowda for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by delivering a political speech within the premises of a temple, which comes under the State Endowments department.

He said that in another case, the EC had issued notice to former Karnataka IPS officer K C Ramamurthy for allegedly storing foodgrains, intended to lure voters. The EC had also ordered an inquiry into the hoarding of foodgrains.

Replying to questions, he said the EC had named 224 general observers and 61 expenditure observers for the three-phased elections to the Karnataka Assembly. ''The EC team is also holding discussions with the Union Government for sparing central forces for deployment during the poll process in the State,'' he added.

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