Bijepur: The police today raided the residence of Odisha Labour Minister Susant Singh at Bausenmura village in Bargarh district on suspicion of cash being hoarded for the Bijepur bypoll, which is scheduled to be held on February 24.
"A raid was conducted following allegation that cash had been kept in the house of Singh for the by-election. However, the police did not find anything in his house," Bargarh DSP N P Nayak said.
The minister, who represents Bijepur’s neighboring constituency Bhatli, has been managing the election affair of the ruling BJD for the bypoll.
The BJP, however, said the action of police is an attempt to fool people.
"Police conducted the raid after informing Singh. The raid was carried out when the meeting of Chief Minister was in progress at Bijepur. It was an attempt to send out a message that they don’t even spare the minister," said BJP State vice president Aswini Sarangi.
Yesterday, a special squad had searched the house of BJP Yuva Morcha president Pritesh Bohidar on suspicion of cash being stashed in his house.
The police action had drawn sharp criticism from the BJP with the party leaders staging dharna in front of Padampur police station opposing the search on the house of the party’s youth leader.
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