The high-security corridors of Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka’s legislative seat, found another round of controversy after police took off his shoes and seized ₹6 lakh in cash. This follows a high-profile theft of jewelry and cash as jewelry was stolen from inside and the situation has been called into question with the money being shifted to some illegal store locations in the city’s power-central power center (NCR).
The incident at Kengal Gate
The drama took place at the Kengal Gate entrance and security forces were checking bags of a foreigner who wanted to get in the Kengal Gate building and immediately opened the bag. It was bundled with ₹6 lakh in total and one of them was shocked by what it meant while in the building waiting to meet the Congress MLA representing the Indi constituency to meet Yashwanthrayagouda Patil and asked him out of office.
So the youth refused despite being told by the officers that taking so much money in the Secretariat is illegal and asked to turn back. He became animated and loud while arguing that he “must visit the MLA at any cost” said the officers. But he was taken into custody and sent to ACP Krishnaiah's office for serious questioning.
Medical Emergency vs political transaction
He said that he was a local youth in Indi district. The main reason for visiting was to have an official letterhead (recommendation letter) from MLA Yashwanthrayagouda Patil on his way there (the letters and recommendations) he said. In view of a large amount of cash he said the money was meant to take home for his uncle's treatment, since he is in hospital, he explained the reason for doing the move.
However it’s the timing of the discovery that has raised concerns. Why would an individual carry a vast quantity of material up to a high-security government building without necessarily traveling to the hospital or using digital banking options?
A pattern of "Money Bag" Cases
This isn’t the first time Vidhana Soudha has faced cash controversies; Just before election day for the 2023 assembly elections when Jagadeesh (Assistant Engineer of Public Works Department) was arrested at West Gate for ₹10.5 lakh in unaccounted cash. That fuelled a political firestorm between a government and opposition party. As the state secretariat is again on the radar, the "Money Bag" culture is once again in sight of public and police agencies.
