ECI asks Rajgopal Reddy to explain Rs 5.22-cr Munugode money transfers

HYDERABAD: As largely anticipated, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday served a notice on Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Munugode Assembly by-election, over allegations of election code violation. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi has lodged a complaint with the ECI against Rajgopal Reddy accusing him of indulging in massive money transfer to 23 different bank accounts from the account of his family-owned company, Sushee Infra, in an alleged attempt to induce the voters of Munugode.

Reacting to the complaint, the Election Commission served the notice, asking Rajgopal Reddy to divulge the details of the money transfers to the tune of Rs 5.22 crores, as alleged by the TRS. The ECI gave the BJP candidate time till 4 pm on October 31, 2022 to comply with its directions and furnish the details.

The TRS, in its complaint lodged with the ECI on Saturday, alleged that a sum of Rs.5.22 crore was transferred into multiple accounts in the recent past by Sushee Infra, promoted by Rajgopal Reddy and his family. The TRS urged the election body to initiate action alleging that the money transferred was meant to be spent in the Munugode by-election.

TRS general secretary Soma Bharat Kumar, in his letter to the ECI, provided the details of dates and amounts transferred into various individuals. He also provided the account numbers into which the amounts were transferred, along with IFSC codes.

Bharat Kumar said in the letter: "We have clear source of information that transfer of money to local residents / companies / firms of Munugode by BJP Candidate K. Rajagopal Reddy from his family-owned company, to the tune of Rs. 5,22,00,000 (Rupees Five Crores Twenty Two Lakhs Only) for spending that money in the on going Bye-Elections to be held in Mungode Assembly constituency, for purchasing the votes. The details of the transfers of funds from his companies to the individuals companies / funds and party members are as follows including the date on which the money is transferred to companies to the account of these 23 bank accounts all are located and situated in Munugode Assembly Constituency."