Kasaragod: In a major breakthrough in the Manjeshwaram money heist case, police recovered Rs 1 lakh from the bribery amount paid to the namesake candidate Sundara from withdrawing his candidature.

Sundara who was the namesake candidate against K Surendran in Manjeshwaram, told police that he was offered Rs 2.5 lakh and a mobile phone to withdraw his nomination as a candidate from the Manjeshwaram Assembly constituency in the recently held state assembly elections.

Sundara told police that he had given Rs 1 lakh to his friend to safely keep it. Sundara’s friend deposited the amount in the bank.The investigation team has collected details regarding the money. Sundara said he spent the remaining amount.

Police inspected the CCTV footage of the shop on Friday from where the mobile phone was purchased. They are also evaluating on who had purchased the phone. Police reached the mobile shop as part of this. The investigation team is yet to interrogate the former BJP worker who had reached Sundara’s house to seal the deal.