Shops raided, 'Modi sarees' seized

At least 150 sarees bearing the picture of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on the packets were seized from two shops at Maruti Nagar in BTM Layout, Bangalore South constituency, on Thursday.

The sarees, which had come from Surat in Gujarat, were meant to be distributed to women voters, police said. 

Three persons, including the owner of the shops, Kanaram, a native of Rajasthan, have been arrested. The raid was carried out by the flying squad of the Election Commission at Padmashree Textiles on a complaint by local residents.

When the residents asked as to why there was Modi’s image on the saree packets, Kanaram allegedly warned him to mind his business and leave the place. “We grew suspicious and immediately informed the Election Commission which raided the shop,” Ravi, one of the residents, said.

He alleged that more than 2,500 sarees have already been distributed to voters in the last few days and these could be leftovers.

Tension prevailed when the shops were raided. Sensing anger among residents, policemen in plainclothes and uniform reached the spot. Madiwala police have registered a case against the trio.