BENGALURU: A lawyer, who is the son of a former district judge, was caught transporting nearly `2 crore cash in his car on the premises of Vidhana Soudha, the state legislature, on Friday afternoon. Siddartha H M, the 39-year-old lawyer, was driving the car when it was stopped for a routine security check at the gate of the complex that houses the legislature and other government offices. He is the son-in-law of a retired Karnataka High Court judge who was recently appointed chairman of a police body with its office in Vikasa Soudha, located in the same complex.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sandeep Patil told Express that they have seized the car and ` 1.97 crore cash found in it. “We questioned Siddartha to ascertain details about the cash found in his car. He gave contradictory statements,” Patil said, adding, “We will hand over the cash to the Magistrate Metropolitan court and he has to produce relevant documents.”
On Friday afternoon, police personnel deployed for security duty at Vidhana Soudha Gate Number 1 (towards KPSC office side) stopped a Volkswagen Polo car (KA-04-MM-9018) when it was entering the complex. Advocates going to the high court located opposite Vidhana Soudha are allowed to pass through the gate.
Police, however, stop all vehicles, except those of ministers and other government officials, for a thorough security check.
They were in for a shock when they found cash neatly packed in boxes in the bootspace of the car. When questioned, Siddartha claimed it amounted to `70 lakh and that he was carrying it for the purpose of registering a site. When police asked him to produce documents related to the cash, Siddartha said he needed time and demanded that he be released.
Sources in the police department said the investigating officers are yet to gather details on where the money came from and where it was being taken to. It is not clear if the advocate was taking the money elsewhere or was visiting anyone at the secretariat.
As it happened
On Friday afternoon, advocate Siddartha’s car stopped at Vidhana Soudha for routine check Police shocked to find K1.97 cr stacked in three boxes kept in Volkswagen’s boot Advocate claims he was carrying money for site registration, fails to show papers, say cops.