Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala BJP has responded after a local party leader filed a police complaint alleging that a fake GST bill was created using his business registration details, deepening a controversy over possible misuse of election funds.
Pramada Chandran, BJP general secretary at the Vamanapuram assembly constituency, said a bill worth Rs 3.25 lakh was generated in the name of his venture, claiming it had supplied 10,000 BJP flags for two assembly constituencies during the recent elections. He said his GST number was used without authorisation and that he approached the police after alerting party state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
“I’m not doing any textile or cloth business, but only deal with supply of edible oil. However, a bill showing my venture supplying party flags has appeared on social media. I have complained to the police to find out the source of this fake bill,” Chandran said in his complaint.
The complaint comes amid allegations that election funds may have been siphoned off through fake or inflated bills and receipts used for campaign materials. Images and video clips making similar allegations have circulated on social media.
The BJP said it would examine the complaints. Senior leader P.K. Krishnadas said the party had not received any formal complaint about election fund irregularities and denied there was any evidence of wrongdoing.
“We have not come across any complaints regarding the election funds. We don’t think there are such issues or anomalies. BJP is a party that gives top priority to transparency,” Krishnadas said.
State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar also denied the allegations and dismissed reports of disciplinary action against three leaders, including a state secretary. He said no anomalies had been detected in connection with the assembly elections and added that the party had already completed audits at the state, district and constituency levels after the polls.