Cookers with Mahila Cong chief's pic seized

The Belagavi city police on Saturday seized a truck laden with pressure cookers, which had pictures of State Mahila Congress president Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is an aspirant for the Congress ticket from Belagavi Rural Assembly constituency.

Laxmi is being accused of distributing freebies on the pretext of conducting competitions for residents of the
Belagavi Rural Assembly constituency on behalf of the Harsha Sugars that is all set to commence its crushing operation from the upcoming season.

But, the distribution of cookers has drawn flak from rival parties, which have accused her of doling out freebies to win over the voters ahead of the elections. BJP leader Anil Benake has lodged a complaint the city police.

Interestingly, the truck was parked a stone's throw away from District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner S Ziyaullaha's residence at Jadhav Nagar. The police rushed to the spot and confiscated the cookers along with the vehicle.Heated arguments were witnessed between Benake and Channaraj Hattiholi, younger brother of Laxmi, who is also the managing director of Harsh Sugars.

Hattiholi claimed he had documents to prove that it was legal material and, they had stopped distributing the cookers after the poll code came into effect. But, the BJP leaders are making false allegations, he added.