Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Poll code ‘violation’: 28 vehicles seized

Impounded: Vehicles belonging to the supporters of Santosh Lad that were seized in Hubli on Saturday.

DHARWAD: As the process of filing nomination papers in Dharwad district ended on Saturday, 28 four-wheelers belonging to the supporters of Santosh Lad, the Congress candidate for Kalghatgi constituency, were seized by the election officials for the alleged violation of the model code of conduct.

The vehicles were seized when the supporters were returning after Mr. Lad filed his nomination papers in Kalghatgi. As many as 23 vehicles were seized in Hubli and five vehicles were seized in Kalghatgi.

Cases have been registered for the violation of the model code of conduct and under the Motor Vehicles Act, sources said.

As per the guidelines of the Election Commission only three vehicles are permitted to be used by the candidates and their supporters while submitting the nomination papers.

On Saturday, Deputy Commissioner M.S. Srikar along with police personnel raided two dhabas on the outskirts of Hubli, following information about illegal storage of liquor. During the raids it was found that 50 barrels of kerosene had been illegally stored at Jagadish Dhaba near Varur, and liquor was being served to customers at Cauvery Punjabi Dhaba without a valid licence.

Mr. Srikar told The Hindu that steps had been taken to register criminal case against owners of Jagadish Dhaba. He said the proprietor of Cauvery Punjabi Dhaba had only club membership licence, which permitted him to serve liquor only to the club members. “The licence has been suspended till the completion of the election process,” he said.

The licence of Cotton Country Club on Gokul Road in Hubli had been suspended as there were irregularities in the maintenance of records on the stocks and other details, he said. Meanwhile, the Hubli-Dharwad police have intensified checking of all vehicles plying between Hubli and Dharwad to curb illegal transportation of liquor and other goods intended for distribution during elections.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Paper presentation contest begins
Observers review preparations in Gadag, Dharwad districts
Three killed in road accident
Poll code ‘violation’: 28 vehicles seized
79 candidates file papers on last day
Explosive materials seized in Hubli

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu