Two held after Odisha MLAs allege poaching attempt
Bengaluru, March 15 (UNI) Two persons have been taken into custody after a complaint from Congress MLAs from Odisha who are currently staying at a resort in Ramanagara, police said on Sunday.
According to police sources, two persons were apprehended at a resort near Bidadi after they allegedly attempted to approach the MLAs and negotiate with them.
In a written complaint submitted to the police, Ashok Kumar Das, Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislative Party in Odisha, alleged that four persons approached some of the party MLAs and attempted to bribe them with crores of rupees each to cross-vote in the upcoming Rajya Sabha election.
In the complaint addressed to the Station House Officer of Bidadi Police Station, Das said the Rajya Sabha election from Odisha is scheduled to be held on March 16, 2026, and since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in Odisha had fielded an additional candidate, there were apprehensions of attempts to influence or poach Congress MLAs.
He said that for the safety and security of the legislators, eight Congress MLAs had travelled to Bengaluru and had been staying in the state since March 12.
According to the complaint, on Sunday, four unknown persons met a few of the MLAs and allegedly tried to bribe them by offering huge sums of money for cross-voting in favour of a candidate.
When the MLAs rejected the offer, the individuals allegedly threatened to kill them if they returned to Odisha and also used abusive language.
The persons named in the complaint are Birendra Prasad, Suresh, Ajit Kumar Sahu and Simachal Mohakud.
Police sources said two of the suspects were detained from a resort in the Bidadi area and handed over to the Bidadi police for further investigation.
Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru South) said over the phone that the police had received the complaint and were verifying the allegations.
“Yes, we have received a complaint from the MLAs, and we are verifying it.
Soo,n we will be converting it into an FIR. Yes, two persons have been taken into custody,” the officer said.
Further details are awaited.
