EC seizes Rs 7.1 lakh worth of gold

Hassan: While liquor, cash and fake voter IDs seized across Karnataka indicate the electoral malpractice of political parties, a new item of influence has been added to the itinerary. Flying squads of the Election Commission have confiscated 410 grams of gold ornaments worth over Rs. 7 lakh, at a house in Arkalgud town in Hassan on Tuesday evening.

Assistant Executive Engineer and member of the flying squad Peetambara Swamy informed that they had found earrings stored in 45 boxes in the house. It was clearly meant for being distributed among voters for influencing the electoral process.

The house belongs to Arun Kumar, on whom a complaint has been filed, along with his two friends- A.C. Ramesh and A.R. Balaji. The officials were unable to find out the candidate who might be behind this plan.