A car, allegedly belonging to KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge, was seized by the Police along with a cash of about Rs. one lakh yesterday. Hundreds of JD (S) workers, led by S.R. Mahesh, picketed the Jayalakshmipuram residence of Congress leader Girija Mahesh last night alleging that Kharge had sent a car laden with cash to be distributed among the voters of Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency.

The party workers shouted slogans against Kharge and deflated the tyres of his car.

As the JD (S) workers began their protest, MLC and film actress Umashri, who was with Kharge in the car, hid herself in a room on the first floor of the house while Congress leaders R. Murthy and H. A. Venkatesh fled the scene. Soon after learning about the incident, Congress workers from Jayalakshmipuram rushed to the spot. So also the Police personnel. An altercation broke out between the JD (S) and Congress party workers while the Police personnel surrounded Kharge and later took him to Jayalakshmipuram Police Station.

Election Observer Anand Singh, who visited the spot, was caught in a wordy duel with the JD (S) party workers. After Kharge was led away by the Police, Congress party workers also cleared away from the spot. But the JD (S) party workers continued their agitation demanding that Kharge's car be searched. The Police brought the car to the Police Station using a crane. JD (S) spokesman Y. S. V. Datta, MLC Abdul Azeem, candidate Shivabasappa, former Minister H.S. Mahadevaprasad and others reached the Police Station.

DCP P. Rajendra Prasad opened the doors of the car in the presence of the JD (S) leaders and party workers and took out two suitcases and a small bag, which contained Rs. 1,02,700 cash, apart from Kharge's clothes.

The entire procedure of seizure and search of the car was video graphed by the Police.