Cash-for-MLA ticket: Hindutva hardliner Chaitra Kundapura, six others remanded in judicial custody

The cops told the court that there was no need for further police custodial interrogation.

Another accused, the seer Abhinav Halasree who was picked up from Odisha a few days after the initial arrests, remains in police custody.

As the accused persons’ bail pleas are coming up for hearing on 26 September, the CCB officials have been asked to file their objections by Tuesday.

Related: Here’s the strange story of Hindutva hardliner Chaitra Kundapura

Kundapura custody sought in fresh cheating case

Meanwhile, the Kota police from Dakshina Kannada district have filed an application with the court seeking police custody of Kundapura to interrogate her in connection with a cheating complaint lodged by a fisherman named Sudheena in Udupi.

Sudheena had, in his complaint, alleged that the Hindustva hardliner known for her fiery speeches, had taken ₹5 lakh from him on the pretext of helping him open two Khadi Bhandar clothing shops in Kota and Udupi.

Chaitra Kundapura had told the media earlier that if the seer Abhinav Halasree is arrested, then “big, big names” will be dropped.

But CCB sources told South First that Kundapura and the seer Halasree were the two prime accused in the case.

However, the seer told CCB officials that it was Chaitra Kundapura and Gagan Kadur who had planned the scheme to cheat Poojary. He will remain in police custody for another six days.

Related: BJP washes its hands off Chaitra Kundapura over ₹5-crore con job

Another cheating complaint against seer Halasree

A former Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) belonging to Ranathur village in Shirahatti taluk, Sanjay Chavadal, has lodged a cheating complaint against Abhinav Halasree, alleging that the seer had taken ₹1 crore with the promise of a BJP MLA ticket.

The complaint was lodged on 19 September with the Mundargi police, who have registered a Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) against Abhinav Halasree.

Chavadal told the police that he handed over ₹1 crore to Halasree before the May Assembly elections in three installments as the seer had promised him a BJP MLA ticket for the reserved Shirahatti SC constituency.

However, as Chavadal has not provided documentary evidence of the alleged ₹1 crore transaction, an NCR was registered and the police have requested the complainant to come back with proper documentary evidence and also the withdrawal transaction receipts of ₹1 crore from his bank accounts.

“The complainant came to us and gave a petition that he had given ₹1 crore to the seer in three installments before the elections, but neither the MLA ticket came nor his demand for returning his money was heeded by the seer. We have registered an NCR and have issued a notice to the complainant to appear before us with documentary evidence so that we could pursue the case by registering an FIR,” a senior police officer told South First.

Related: CCB recovers ₹2.25 crore from Hindutva activist Chaitra Kundapura

Complainant in mute mode

Police sources said that the complainant Sanjay Chavadal had switched off his phone and has gone incommunicado.

“When questions were raised as to the source of income of the ₹1 crore that he allegedly gave the seer and the reason why he was placed under suspension while he was a PDO, the complainant has gone mute,” a police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, told South First.

The PDO had been suspended for dereliction of duty.

Gadag district’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Babasaheb Nemagoud said that the Mundargi police have issued a notice to Sanjay Chavadal urging him to submit relevant documentary evidence regarding the alleged fraud.