BJP Kerala chief Surendran booked for allegedly bribing candidate to withdraw Assembly poll nomination

The case was registered as per the directions of a magistrate court

A court in Kerala's Kasargod on Monday ordered registration of a case against BJP Kerala president K Surendran for allegedly bribing a candidate to withdraw nomination at Manjeshwar in the recent Assembly election.

Meanwhile, the state government handed over details regarding the alleged hawala money flow to Kerala for BJP's electioneering to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

With series of election-related funding allegations coming up against the state leadership, the party national leadership is learnt to have appointed a three-member panel comprising 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan to probe into the allegations.

Read more: Kerala highway heist: BJP accuses LDF govt of playing 'politics of revenge'

The Kasargod first-class magistrate court ordered registration of case considering a petition of LDF candidate in the election V V Ramesh based on the revelation of BSP candidate K Sundara that he withdrew the nomination after receiving Rs 2.5 lakh and a mobile phone from BJP local leaders. Two local leaders who handed over the cash would be also arraigned in the case under sections of IPC 171 for election-related offences.

The Badiadka police have already launched a probe into the allegation and took Sundara's statement on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the state Assembly that the details of the case pertaining to smuggling of Rs 3.5 crore hawala money, in which many BJP leaders are facing probe, were handed over to the ED on June 1. The ED sought details regarding the case.

The Opposition Congress-led UDF had sought permission for an adjournment motion over the issue alleging that the funds were meant for illegal electioneering by BJP. After permission was denied for the adjournment motion, the House witnessed a heated argument between the CPM and the Congress leader accusing each other of nexus with the BJP.

Meanwhile, the probe into the hawala money smuggling was also reported to be leading to Surendran as it was found that those involved in the case had contacted Sundrendran's son on his mobile phone soon after the robbery on April 3.