Amravati: President Pratibha Patil's
son and Congress MLA Raosaheb Shekhawat on Tuesday said the Rs 1
crore seized as unaccounted cash was meant for distribution
among financially weak candidates for the local civic polls.
"I had sought funds from the state Congress Committee for
distributing them among 87 party candidates as most of them
are women and poor. Accordingly, Rs 1 crore was sent to me
which was to be distributed at Rs 1 lakh per candidate and the
rest (of the money) was meant for the district Congress
committee.
"We had produced the official letter from MPCC and I too
had given a letter to the police commissioner after he had
asked for it," Shekhawat said.
Police on Sunday seized the cash which was being
transported in the city from Nagpur in a car and arrested two
persons in this connection.
Expressing confidence that Congress would rout BJP at the
hustings, Shekhawat said, "we would tomorrow claim the seized
money from a local court as directed by the Commissioner of
Police.
"Had the seized money been released to us after we
produced the letters, it would have helped our candidates in
electioneering. Now, even if we get it tomorrow, it would be
of a little help," he said.
BJP, which is in opposition in the Congress-NCP ruled
municipal corporation, alleged that Congress has put into
circulation huge amount of money to influence voters in the
February 16 polls.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 20:24