Seer accused in BJP poll ticket fraud case with right-wing activist Chaitra Kundapura moves court for anticipatory bail

On September 8, Poojari filed a police complaint in Bengaluru over the alleged cheating incident in 2022 when he was aspiring to contest the Karnataka Assembly polls from Byndoor constituency in Udupi.

The Central Crime Branch police in Bengaluru have named Halaveerappajja as the third accused in the case based on Poojary’s allegation that he paid Rs 1.5 crore out of the total Rs 5 crore for the poll ticket to the seer on the suggestion of Kundapura and her associate Gagan Kadur, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader.

The Bengaluru police arrested Kundapura and four others on September 13 but reported the seer to be absconding. Kundapura has told the police and media that “the names of big people involved in the case will be revealed when the Swamiji is secured”.

The accused allegedly weaved a story for the businessman where they pretended to be BJP and RSS leaders to convince the businessman that he was being considered for a poll ticket by BJP leaders at the highest level. The gang allegedly referred Poojary to the seer on the grounds that he has connections with the Prime Minister.

In his police complaint, Poojary has accused the seer of collecting Rs 1.5 crore while Kundapura and associates are accused of collecting Rs 3.5 crore.

Following the filing of an anticipatory bail plea by the seer on Thursday, a sessions court in Bengaluru observed that there were no grounds for grant of interim bail. The seer, however, obtained a gag order from a civil court against defamatory media reportage. He has claimed to be “involved in implementing and executing various upliftment programmes for the society” and said his image would be damaged by “defamatory articles” against him.

The ex-parte interim order issued on Thursday restrains the media and social media outlets “from telecasting or broadcasting or printing any news with regard to the plaintiff” that could damage the reputation of the seer.