By IANS,
Hyderabad : It may be a time of global recession but it’s raining money in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh as politicians use all means to woo voters.
In ongoing search operations across the state, the police have seized cash worth over Rs.50 million during the last 10 days.
The police Wednesday seized Rs.4.1 million cash and 21 kg of silver from two cars in Nalgonda. They arrested 10 people in this connection and are investigating as to whom the money and silver was being transferred.
They also seized Rs.3 million at different places including Mahbubnagar and Warangal districts.
The police have recovered wads of cash during search of vehicles in different places in the state. They have set up check posts to check illegal transfer of money, liquor, weapons and explosives before the simultaneous polls to the state assembly and the Lok Sabha on April 16 and April 23.
The police seized Rs.13.6 million in cash on a single day Tuesday. In a sensational development, police recovered Rs.1 million from three pastors who were staying in a lodge in Karimnagar district. They had come to attend a meeting of pastors addressed by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s son-in-law and evangelist Anil Kumar.
The seizure came amid allegations by the opposition Telugu Desam Party that Anil Kumar was using religious meetings to campaign for the ruling Congress party.
Four supporters of the Congress candidate from the Kollapur assembly constituency in Mahabubnagar district were arrested after police recovered Rs.185,000 from their vehicle.
Police also seized Rs.250,000 in cash from the car belonging to a close friend of Congress candidate Shashidhar Reddy in Medak town.
The police also held a bank manager who was transferring Rs.3.6 million in cash from Palakole to Rajahmundry in East Godavari district. He could not give any satisfactory explanation as to why and for whom he was transferring the money.
Earlier, the police had seized Rs.1 million from the vehicles of former minister and Praja Rajyam Party member T. Sitaram in East Godavari district.
Additional Director General of Police A.K. Khan said 431 check posts have been set up across the state including at the entry points where vehicles were being searched to prevent the illegal flow of money, liquor and smuggling of explosives and weapons ahead of elections.