Search warrant against BJP MP Sriramulu in cheating case

Ballari (KTK), Nov 26: A court here today issued a search warrant against BJP Lok Sabha member B Sriramulu in connection with a case of cheating filed against him in April. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate ordered the issue of search warrant as neither Sriramulu nor his advocate were present when the matter came up before the court today.

The court had in September ordered issue of Non-Bailable Warrant against Sriramulu in the case relating to alleged cheating involving Rs 2.96 crore registered against him. A functionary of Sriramulu's erstwhile party BSR Congress had filed the complaint in April claiming he was promised a ticket by him to contest Lok Sabha polls or that he would be made an MLC.

Sriramulu had issued a cheque but it was dishonoured, the complainant, Somashekar from BSR Congress, Mysore district unit, had alleged. In the complaint, registered with Ballari rural police, Somashekhar alleged that when he approached Sriramulu for not honouring the promise, he was threatened.

Sriramulu had, however, dismissed the allegations as an attempt to tarnish his image and a "political conspiracy" against him. Sriramulu, a one-time close associate of former minister and mining baron Janardhana Reddy, had floated BSR Congress but rejoined BJP.

PTI