Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Jan 11: Crime branch which investigates cases of bribery in Manjeshwar Vidhana Sabha elections has submitted a chargesheet to the Kasargod district court.

There are six accused including the Kerala state BJP president K Surendran who is the prime accused in the case. The crime branch has identified former BJP district president Balakrishna Shetty, Yuva morcha leader Sunil Naik, Y Suresh, Manikanta Rai and Lokesh Nonda as the other accused.

It is alleged that BJP candidate K Surendran had paid a bribe of Rs 2.5 lacs in cash and given a mobile phone handset to lure Manjeshwar BSP candidate K Sundara to withdraw his nomination in Kerala Vidhana Sabha elections in 2021. K Sundara had disclosed this after the elections.

Badiadka police had registered a case in June 2021 on the basis of a complaint from LDF candidate V V Rameshan. The case was handed over to the crime branch later on court directive.

Cases under prevention of atrocities against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, entry to the houses without permission have been registered against Surendran.