08 January,2010 08:17 AM IST | | B V Shiva Shankar
Many aspirants to poll ticket said to be greasing police palms to have criminal cases against them closed
Some police officials are enjoying an unexpected windfall after the supreme court cleared the decks for February 21 Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls, as now the aspiring candidates are in a hurry to come clean out of their criminal background.
The aspirants, especially from Congress, are making a beeline to seek top police-officials' help to close criminal cases against them, and the cops are lining up to file B-reports (see box) after making a fortune.
Rush for Cong ticket
"The Congress high command is particular about candidates' background, and Rahul Gandhi has issued strict instructions to keep people with criminal background completely out of way and that is why the aspirants are approaching police officials," said a senior Congress leader.
This time around Congress' win is said to be almost a sure thing hence there is a great demand for Congress tickets. BJP is shattered with internal bickering, while JD(S) lacks a vote base in the city.
Real estate gang
Local bigwigs of real estate are dominating the list of aspirants and most of them are embroiled in criminal cases such as murder, attempt to murder, kidnap, and extortion. The two hurdles in their way are the strict guidelines of election commission that doesn't allow people with criminal background to contest elections and the firm stand taken by the Congress high command to keep criminals at bay.
"They can overcome election commission's guidelines as Representation of People Act bars only those who are convicted from contesting polls but, they can not circumvent the high command's dictum and they must come clean in order to get a chance," said the leader.
The going rate
Some of the aspirants have even offered up to Rs 50 lakh to concerned police officers for filing a B-report that will relieve them of charges against them. The cops of the crime prone areas such as Jagajeevan Ram Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Frezer Town, and Gurappana Palya are in enviable position, as these areas have a lot of aspirants having a criminal background.
Seeing is believing
A police constable, who has witnessed two such instances said, "Certain police station limits are lucrative and I know how police inspectors are making money during this poll season." He further added, "It has just started now and many police inspectors will be richer by several crores by the time BBMP polls draw to a close."
| What's B-report? |
|
When there is not enough evidence against the accused or if the accused is found to be innocent, the police files a report in court saying so. Such a report is called a B-report. |
