Rs.2.15 crore seized ahead of Rajya Sabha poll

Ranchi, March 30 (IANS) With the Election Commission (EC) having sounded an alert in view of the Rajya Sabha polls, the income tax department in Jharkhand Friday seized Rs.2.15 crore from a vehicle on the outskirts of this city, said an official.

"Acting on an intelligence input we raided an Innova car coming to Ranchi from Jamshedpur. Around Rs.2.15 crore was seized from it. The EC had alerted the income tax department about horse trading for the Rajya Sabha polls," an official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

According to sources in the department, the vehicle from which the money was seized belonged to the relative of an independent candidate. Sources said the names of a few legislators have been found on a piece of paper in the seized vehicle.

"We are investigating the case related to seizure of money," said Ajit Srivastav, director of IT, told reporters.

Polling for two Rajya Sabha seats was on in the Jharkhand assembly Friday.

Five candidates, including two independents, are in the fray. The five candidates are Sanjiv Kumar of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Pradeep Balmuchu of the Congress, Praveen Kumar Singh of the Jharkhand Vikash Morcha-Prajatantrik, and two independents - R.K. Agarwal and Pawan Kumar Dhut.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal, which has five legislators, has announced its support to the Congress candidate in the poll. The Bharatiya Janata Party has said it will abstain from voting. Efforts are on by JMM to persuade the BJP to vote for its candidate.