Rs. 1 crore unaccounted cash was seized on Sunday from son of the President Smt. Pratibha Patil and Maharashtra Congress MLA Mr. Raosaheb Shekhawat. While Raosaheb said that the money was meant for distribution among financially weak candidates for the upcoming local civic polls on 16 February. But the BJP, which is in the Opposition in the Congress-NCP ruled Municipal Corporation, alleged that the Congress has put the money into circulation to influence voters before polls.

However, Raosaheb furnished sufficient proof that the money was financial from the Party to the women and financially weaker candidates. He explained, "I had sought funds from the state Congress Committee for distributing them among 87 party candidates as most of them are women and poor. Accordingly, Rs 1 crore was sent to me which was to be distributed at Rs 1 lakh per candidate and the rest of the amount was meant for the district Congress committee. We had produced the official letter from MPCC, and I too had given a letter to the police commissioner after he had asked for it," Shekhawat said.

Expressing confidence that Congress would rout BJP at the hustings, Shekhawat said, "We would tomorrow claim the seized money from a local court as directed by the Commissioner of Police. "Had the seized money been released to us after we produced the letters, it would have helped our candidates in electioneering. Now, even if we get it tomorrow, it would be of a little help," he said.

BJP, which is in opposition in the Congress-NCP ruled municipal corporation, alleged that Congress has put into circulation huge amount of money to influence voters in the February 16 polls. Maharashtra unit BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar yesterday said that his party had filed a formal complaint with the election commission in this regard.