Unaccounted-for-cash case: Ramanath Rai, five other booked

Bantwal: A case against former minister Ramanth Rai, to builders and three other in connection with seizure of Rs 62 lakh during the Assemby election last year has been registered by Bantwal ton police on Tuesday following directions from the local magistrate.

Nirman constructions proprietor Uday Hegde, Mugarodi construction proprietor Sudhakar Shetty, Varun and Preetam Devadiga who are employedds in Mugarodi construction and Densil Herman who is the personal assistant of Mr Rai, are the other accused in the case.

As per the complaint filed by Bantwal Tahsildar Sannalingaiah on Mar 3^rd 2019, income tax officials had raided Mugarodi constructions office and seized Rs 22 lakh in cash on May 8^th 2018. The officials then raided Srinivas lodge at BC road and seized Rs 40 lakh in cash from Densil Herman. They were accused by the officials of using the money to be distributed amongst the voters and the violation the model code of conduct.

Deputy Commissioner and District Electoral Officer S Sasikanth Senthil directed the Tahsildar to file the complaint with Bantwal town police following a report from the income tax officials. Accordingly the police registered a non-cognizable case and submitted it to the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC Court for directions.

As per the order from the Court, a case under the section 123 of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951 and IPC 171 (E) was registered against Mr Rai and the five by Bantwal town police on Tuesday Mar 5^th.