Fake bills, audio clip fuel fresh corruption allegations in Kerala BJP election campaign

Thiruvananthapuram: Fresh allegations of financial irregularities have surfaced against the Kerala BJP over the printing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cut-outs used during an election roadshow, with an audio clip and fake bills purportedly exposing a large-scale scam.

The allegations are part of complaints regarding corruption within the Kerala BJP during the election campaign, which were reportedly submitted to the party's National Organising General Secretary B.L. Santhosh.

An audio recording that has now surfaced captures a senior state BJP leader, who was in charge of the party's election management committee, instructing others on how to inflate bills and siphon off party funds.

In the recording, the leader is heard saying that bills should be prepared on a "half for us, half for them" basis. He discusses printing 8,000 cut-outs at a total cost of ₹16 lakh, while suggesting that ₹8 lakh should be retained as commission and directing that the bills be prepared accordingly.

According to the allegations, a company had originally offered to print each cut-out for ₹175. However, BJP leaders allegedly created quotations in the names of three different companies, quoting rates of ₹310, ₹285 and ₹265 per cut-out.

The contract was eventually awarded to the company that quoted ₹265 per cut-out- the same firm that had initially agreed to undertake the work for ₹175 each. It is alleged that payments were later claimed at the inflated rate, resulting in the misappropriation of party funds.

The complaint further alleges that two publicity in-charges received a commission of ₹5 lakh from the cut-out printing deal.

The allegations, along with supporting documents and evidence, have been submitted to the BJP's national leadership, which has initiated an internal inquiry into the matter.