Police in Morang have impounded a vehicle used in election campaigning along with cash.
After nearly Rs 450,000 in cash was found inside a vehicle carrying Nepali Congress workers, the vehicle and the money were handed over to the election office for investigation, according to Superintendent of Police Kabit Katwal of the District Police Office, Morang.
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) workers had stopped the vehicle in Ratuwa Mai and informed the police.
“The police were informed, and they said money was being distributed. But when we arrived, the vehicle was found at the chowk,” he said. “Congress campaign materials and Rs 449,000 were found inside the vehicle.”
When asked about the owner and source of the money, the driver claimed to be a businessman and said the amount was his own, SP Katwal added.
The police took three individuals into custody along with the money and the vehicle. All three were released later after questioning.
The police handed over the money and vehicle to the Morang Constituency No. 2 Election Office for investigation, he said.
“We have handed over [the vehicle and the money] to them. They have initiated the investigation process,” he SP Katwal said.
Election Officer Rudra Acharya said information about the incident had been received, and that further procedures would proceed once it is submitted to him.
In Morang-2, Minendra Rijal is the candidate from the Nepali Congress. Dilip Kumar Agrawal from the CPN-UML, Chandrabir Rai from the Nepali Communist Party, and Krishna Kumar Karki from the RSP are also in the race.