An FIR has been lodged against Congress candidate for the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha seat Gopal Sahu in connection with seizure of Rs 22 lakh in cash from his hotel room, an official said Tuesday.
Hazaribagh development commissioner-cum-Nodal officer of Expenditure Cell of the Election Commission, Vijaya Jadhav said the case was lodged under the Representation of People's Act after a team recovered the cash from the hotel on Sunday.
The FIR also named Sahu's son, Sandeep Kumar Sahu, he said.
A separate case under IPC 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) was registered against former mukhiya of Chano panchayat, Munna Singh, for allegedly assaulting the raiding party, the officer said.
He said the seized amount has been deposited with the Hazaribagh Treasury.
Further investigations were on, he added.
Sahu is contesting against Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and BJP candidate Jayant Sinha for the Hazaribagh seat, the election for which will be held on May 6.
Addressing a press conference during the day, Sahu expressed surprise over the raids saying, "Despite my declaration in the affidavit before the returning officer about cash in hand of Rs 16 lakh and also another Rs one lakh, which is corroborated in my affidavit submitted before the Returning Officer, but the raids took place."
"I have also mentioned about Rs 50 lakh in different accounts before the returning officer," Sahu said, adding he was rewarded by the Income Department for being one of the highest tax payers in Jharkhand but still the Hazaribagh district administration raided "my hotel rooms and seized Rs 22 lakh from my election managers".
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