Karnataka Election: Case Against DK Shivakumar For Distributing Cash During Poll Campaign

A local court heard the case and ordered the police to file an FIR against the Karnataka Congress president.

Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar addresses a public meeting, in Hubballi, Karnataka. ( Image Source :File Photo/PTI )

The police opened a case against D K Shivakumar, the president of the Karnataka Congress, for allegedly handing out cash during a campaign for a poll, reported news agency PTI.

The move comes just a few days after the police registered a non-cognizable offense against Shivakumar in response to a complaint that he sprayed currency notes at the crowd from his campaign bus on March 28 at Bevinahalli village in Mandya Taluk.

A local court heard the case and ordered the police to file an FIR against the Karnataka Congress president.

The Mandya police have registered a non-cognisable offense against Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar for allegedly distributing cash during a campaign in the district. A video from the campaign showed Shivakumar throwing cash at the people on Tuesday, a day before Election Commission announced the schedule for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Mandya Superintendent of Police Yathish N told PTI, “We haven’t registered a First Information Report yet. A non-cognisable offense has been taken up and the matter will be presented before the court seeking its direction.”

On Tuesday, Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar threw Rs 500 notes on people during a campaign rally at Srirangapatna in Karnataka.

According to ANI, "#WATCH | Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar was seen throwing Rs 500 currency notes on the artists near Bevinahalli in Mandya district during the ‘Praja Dhwani Yatra’ organized by Congress in Srirangapatna."

#WATCH | Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar was seen throwing Rs 500 currency notes on the artists near Bevinahalli in Mandya district during the ‘Praja Dhwani Yatra’ organized by Congress in Srirangapatna. (28.03) pic.twitter.com/aF2Lf0pksi

— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2023

Congress workers in Mandya claimed that Shivakumar was paying artists who had performed at a cultural event during the party's campaign after the complaint was filed.

DK Shivakumar is in the race for the Chief Ministerial post if Congress comes to power by winning a majority in Karnataka Assembly elections 2023. 
 
Earlier, DK Shivakumar ran into another controversy after he called the members of his community to extend their support for him. DK Shivakumar from Vokkaliga community told the people of the community to 'stregthen his hand' in old Mysuru, which is dominated by Vokkaligas.
 
Karnataka is set to vote on May 10 and the results of the elections will be released on May 13.