Over 40 kg gold seized from Tarikere constituency in poll-bound Karnataka
Bengaluru, Apr 20: The Election Commission has seized over 40 kilograms of gold and more than 20 kg silver with a combined worth of Rs 23.51 crore in Tarikere Assembly constituency in Chikkamagaluru district ahead of elections in Karnataka next month, the poll body said on Thursday.
The EC's flying surveillance teams confiscated 40.59 kg gold and 20.7 kg silver in the Assembly segment in the poll-bound state.
Enforcement agencies have made seizures totalling nearly Rs 240 crore in Karnataka since the model code of conduct (MCC) came into force on March 29, when the poll schedule was announced.
The total seizures (Rs 239.52 crore) include cash (Rs 80 crore), liquor (Rs 48 crore), gold and silver (Rs 78 crore), freebies (Rs 19 crore) and drugs/narcotics (Rs 16 crore), the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer said.
As many as 1,714 FIRs have been booked with regard to the seizures.
It was noted that the seizures before the announcement of the Assembly polls totalled about Rs 58 crore (March 9 to March 27 period).
Voting will take place on May 10 and counting of votes is scheduled on May 13.
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Kerala BJP leader PC George booked for 'hate speech'
Kottayam (Kerala), Jan 11: Kerala BJP leader P C George has been booked for allegedly making remarks that could incite religious hatred, police said on Saturday.
George was accused of hate speech against a minority community during a TV discussion held early this week, sources said.
The Erattupetta Police here registered a case against the senior leader on Friday based on a complaint filed by the Muslim Youth League Municipal Committee.
He was booked under various sections of the BNS, police said adding that further proceedings would be initiated soon.
"The case was registered after the statements of the complainants were recorded," a police officer said. Meanwhile, BJP strongly condemned the police case against George and alleged that it was a "political vendetta by the LDF government."
Senior BJP leader and the party's Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar accused the CPI(M)-led Left government of not saying a word against Hamas and admitting PDF followers into their fold.
Justifying George, Javadekar said he has already clarified that his intention was to express opposition to extremism and not to target any community.
"FIR against PC George is political vendetta by LDF government, which doesn't say a word against Hamas and admits PDF followers into their fold," he posted on his 'X' handle.
"UDF is also guilty of appeasing extremist politics. It never appreciated ban on PDF or condemned Hamas. PC George has already clarified that his intention was to express opposition to extremism & not to target any community. Kerala stands firmly against extremism," he added.
BJP state chief K Surendran also criticised the Pinarayi Vijayan government for registering the case against George and said the party would face the case legally and politically.
He also alleged that the government registered the case against the senior leader under the pressure of communal forces.
FIR against PC George is political vendetta by LDF government, which doesn’t say a word against Hamas and admits PDF followers into their fold.
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) January 11, 2025
UDF is also guilty of appeasement of extremist politics.
It never appreciated ban on PDF or condemned Hamas.
PC George has already…
