BENGALURU: An advocate ferrying unaccounted cash of Rs 1.97 crore to Vidhana Soudha was caught by the security staff on Friday afternoon. While the advocate is reportedly making contradictory statements, it is alleged that the cash was supposed to be given to a minister. The drama unfolded at the Kengal Hanumanthaiah Gate at Vidhana Soudha around 2.30 pm when a Volkswagen Polo car (KA-04-MM-9018) was stopped for a security check. When the security personnel checked the boot, they found three boxes. When they opened it, they found wads of currency notes in all the boxes.
“The security staff questioned the man in the car. He introduced himself as Siddhartha H.M., an advocate. When asked why he was carrying the cash, he said that it was just '70 lakh and he was on his way to register a property. When asked to produce the documents related to the cash, he said he would produce them but needed some time,” an official said.
“As he failed to produce documents, he was detained at the Vidhana Soudha police station and senior officers were informed about the incident. We counted the cash and found that it was Rs 1.97 crore and not Rs 70 lakh as mentioned by Siddhartha. As he was interrogated, he made contradictory statements and kept claiming that he had the documents and would produce them.
“Two Deputy Commissioners of Police also interrogated him, but he continued to give contradictory statements. Finally, a case was registered against him at the Vidhana Soudha police station and the car and cash were seized,” the official said.
Siddhartha, aged around 40, is said to be an advocate at the city civil court and a resident of Judicial Layout. His father is said to be a former judge, while his father-in-law is a serving judge. Home Minister seeks info: Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar has reportedly sought information on the case.
However, the mystery as to who the cash belonged to and to whom it was being delivered remains unanswered, as even the top police officials are tightlipped about the case.
