Rs 1.63 lakh seized from ex-minister Nafees Fazal

Observers for elections to urban local bodies (ULB) seized Rs 1.63 lakh from the possession of former minister and Congress leader Nafees Fazal in the city on Thursday. 

Officials said the office of the State Election Commission received a phone call stating that the former minister was staying in a private hotel in the city for the last three days and distributing money to the party’s candidates for the City Municipal Council elections.

Following this, a team of officials, including the observer for the ULB polls Madan G Nayak and district nodal officer Gangubai Mankar raided the hotel where Fazal was staying, along with the police. 

On inspection, a sum of Rs 1.63 lakh - in packets of Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations - was found in her vanity bag.  The Gol Gumbaz police seized the money and registered a case of violation of the model code of conduct for elections.

Fazal opposed the raid on the grounds that she had brought the money for paying advance money for the house she planned to rent in the city. 

The former minister told the officials that she was a former minister and a prospective minister in future and hence, they should not treat her in this manner. 

She demanded that the officials spare at least Rs 60,000, for the return journey to Bangalore, one of the officials said. Congress sources said Fazal was planning to contest the next Assembly elections on the party’s ticket from Bijapur city constituency and hence, was visiting the city often.