President's son questioned in Amravati cash seizure case

Amravati (Mah), Feb 21: President Pratibha Patil's son and Congress MLA Raosaheb Shekhawat was on Tuesday questioned by the Amravati Police in connection with the seizure of Rs one crore unaccounted cash here ahead of the civic polls.

Accompanied by MPCC General Secretary, Ganesh Patil and a battery of lawyers, Shekhawat reached the Police Commissioner's office here this morning, where his statement was recorded in the case.

Amravati Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar told reporters, "We have questioned the source and destination of the funds seized, to which Shekhawat has reiterated that it was party fund."

He said that investigations are in a critical stage and "we are probing all angles."

Shekhawat said that as per the requirement, he has furnished details of transactions of Rs one crore sent by the MPCC, with all relevant documents and break-up of disbursements to the police.

The MLA told the police that Rs 87 lakh was meant to be disbursed to as many number of Congress candidates and the rest was to be spend by the Amravati city party unit.

Cash worth Rs one crore, which was being transported into the city from Nagpur in a car and meant to be used during the civic polls, was seized in the early hours of February 12 and two persons were arrested in the case.

Following the seizure, the Election Commission had directed the district collector and municipal commissioner to file a report about the incident. The Collector had also issued a notice to Shekhawat and others in the case.

However, denying allegations that the seized cash was unaccounted, Shekhawat had claimed that the money was meant for distribution among financially weak candidates for the local municipal elections, held on February 16.

PTI