BJP ticket fraud case: Charge sheet filed against 8 accused including Chaithra Kundapur

Team Udayavani, Nov 9, 2023, 8:49 AM IST

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have filed an 800-page charge sheet in a high-profile extortion case involving businessman Govindababu Pujari, who allegedly offered Rs 5 crore for a BJP ticket in the Byndoor assembly constituency. The charge sheet, names eight accused, including Hindu activist Chaithra, Gagan Kadur, and their team.

The case centers on the extortion of Rs 5 crore from businessman Govindababu Pujari during the last state assembly elections, in exchange for a BJP ticket. The CCB police have gathered statements from 75 witnesses, digital and circumstantial evidence, mobile phone conversations, and CCTV footage from the accused. Key figures in the case, such as Chaithra and Gagan Kadur, have reportedly confessed to their roles in the fraud.

The charge sheet also revealed that Chaithra alleged that a prominent individual connected to central BJP and RSS leaders was involved in the case and that they would easily secure the BJP ticket for Rs 5 crore. In response to her instructions, the remaining accused played their part in the extortion scheme.

The third accused in the case, Abhinava Halasree Swamiji of Hirehadagali Halaswami Mutt, Vijayanagara district, has been granted bail by the High Court. The CCB police had arrested him for his involvement in the case.

In total, Rs 4.11 crores, including cash, gold ornaments, and cars, were seized from the accused. The charge sheet and investigation confirmed that they had extorted the money.

The case, originally filed at the Bandepalaya Police Station and later transferred to the CCB, saw Chaithra, Halasree Swamiji, Srikanth Naik, Gagan Kadur, Dhanraj, Ramesh, Prasad, and Prajwal Shetty arrested. The accused had kept their gains in various forms, including property deeds, fixed deposits, cash, and gold, leading to a significant confiscation of assets. The trial will be heard by the Magistrate Court to determine the veracity of the allegations against the accused.