Demonetisation leaves Bengaluru ex-corporator with piles of scrapped currency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive has left a former corporator of Bengalure Municipal Corporation with huge piles of Rs500 and Rs1,000 scrapped notes, ostensibly because the man could not account for the cash.

Police found the cash piles at the office and residence of former corporator V Nagaraj, popularly known as "Bomb Naga," while conducting searches at his premises in a kidnapping case.

The police said Nagaraj, formerly a history-sheeter, was not present either at his home or office at Srirampura during the searches and had reportedly escaped, adding that police personnel had to enter the premises by breaking open the window.

The officials said they recovered a huge amount of cash, some documents and sharp weapons, and are investigating the case.

"We have got old notes, land documents and sharp weapons.

It is under investigation. Once the search operation and panchnama is completed, we will come back to you with details," Additional Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru East) Hemant Nimbalkar told reporters.

Police was searching Nagraj's premises in connection with a kidnapping case under a search warrant from the court.

Police said the currency notes were being counted with the help of a note counting machine

In 2004, Nagraj had contested the assembly elections from the Gandhinagar constituency in the city on JD(S) ticket against Dinesh Gundurao, now the working president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.