Bengaluru
A case has been registered against three Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for allegedly duping a man of ₹2.55 crore by promising a party ticket in Vijayanagara district for state assembly elections, police officials said.
The Kottur police have registered a case against Mohan Kataria, former district unit BJP president, local leaders Revana siddappa and Shekar Purushotham following a complaint by P Shivamurthy, a retired engineer. The case pertains to allegations that the BJP leaders misled and defrauded Shivamurthy with the promise of securing a political ticket, police said.
The three leaders had promised Shivamurthy a BJP ticket for the Hagaribommanahalli assembly constituency, reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC).
After coming to know about the fraud, Shivamurthy,in his police complaint, said he had spent ₹65 lakh in party activities. He soon realised that the fraudsters had swindled him ₹1.90 crore by promising the ticket. He said he was duped of ₹2.55 crore.
Shivamurthy reached out to chief minister Siddaramaiah and home minister G Parameshwar, addressing a letter in which he appealed for justice. He furnished information regarding the individuals involved in the fraud and implored them to take punitive action against the wrongdoers and facilitate the return of his money.
The three accused introduced Shivamurthy to Shekhar, a BJP leader from Puttur, on October 23, 2022. Subsequently, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel met Shivamurthy at the BJP office in Bengaluru. Shivamurthy’s letter says that Kateel acknowledged discussing the ticket issue with Shekhar, the BJP leader from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada.
{{/usCountry}}The three accused introduced Shivamurthy to Shekhar, a BJP leader from Puttur, on October 23, 2022. Subsequently, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel met Shivamurthy at the BJP office in Bengaluru. Shivamurthy’s letter says that Kateel acknowledged discussing the ticket issue with Shekhar, the BJP leader from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada.
{{/usCountry}}Kateel and other leader could not be reached out for their comments.
Shivamurthy realised the extent of the deception when the Hagaribommanahalli BJP ticket was allotted to Ballahunsi Ramanna.
“On the complaint of Shiva Murthy we have registered a case against three accused under IPC section 420 (cheating) 506 (threatening with life) and 34(criminal act done by few persons with common intent),” Kottur sub-inspector Geethanjali told HT. She said, “The investigation is underway and the officials will take appropriate action.”