BJD leader held for distributing cash in Ghasipura ahead of Phase 3 polls in Odisha

Chinmayee Dash Published On : May 24, 2024 at 3:15 PM Updated On : May 24, 2024 at 4:03 PM

Ghasipura (Keonjhar): With only some hours left for the 3rd phase of elections in Odisha, the flying squad team detained a BJD leader with cash and party posters in Ghasipura area in Keonjhar district.

The accused BJD leader has been identified as Pradeep aka Tulu Sahoo, the Sarpanch of Ramachandrapur under Ghasipura Assembly Constituency in Keonjhar district.

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The flying squad team detained Tulu Sahoo at Ramachandrapur Police Station in Ghasipura and seized Rs 5 lakh cash from his vehicle bearing the Rgd.No. OD02AN0051.

According to reports, Tulu Saho had been distributing cash among voters in different villages for voting in favour of the BJD candidate from Ghasipura Assembly seat, which is set for polling tomorrow on May 25.

Acting on a tip-off, the flying squad team deployed by the Election Commission of India caught Tulu Sahoo with cash amounting to approximately Rs 5 lakh and some party posters. Later, he was released from the police station.

Reports said that Tulu Sahoo is an active member of the BJD and close aide of BJD’s Assembly candidate from Ghasipura Badri Narayan Patra. He is also the district coordinator of Jeevan Bindu programme of the BJD.

On the other hand, Ghasipura’s Independent candidate Soumya Ranjan Patnaik appealed to the Election Commission to hold the polling in a peaceful manner in sensitive booths of the Assembly Constituency.

Ghasipura