Rs 100 crore offered to TRS MLAs who switch parties in Telangana; three arrested for attempt to lure

HYDERABAD: Three persons were taken into custody during a police raid at a farmhouse in Aziz Nagar, Hyderabad. The police raid was conducted following a tip-off by TRS MLA alleging that BJP had planned ‘Operation Lotus' in Telangana. Satish Sharma alias Ramchandra Bharati, a priest from Faridabad, Haryana, D. Simhayaji from Tirupati, and Nandakumar, a businessman, were arrested. The police said that they were taken into custody while having discussions to offer bribes to the TRS MLAs to switch parties.

TRS MLA, who informed the police, stated that the main leader who would switch party was offered Rs 100 crore and each MLA who joined him was promised Rs 50 crore. The police said that the accused had reached Hyderabad under fake names and had seized Rs 15 crore during the inspection. The police have also received information that they are BJP agents.

But the BJP leaders are alleging that this is a drama by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao to distract attention from the Munugode by-poll in fear of defeat.