An Ongole-based gold merchant, Nallamalli Balu, claimed that the Rs 5 crore cash seized by the Tamil Nadu police from a car at the Elavur check post in Arambakkam near Gummidipoondi on the AP-Chennai border, belonged to him.
He said that his driver stuck the MLA sticker on the vehicle. The sticker is not a valid one as it has the name of Giddalur MLA Anna Rambabu, who is not a legislator now. He said that he has no clue about how his driver got the sticker.
Balu said that the cash belonged to him and was being carried to Chennai to buy gold ahead of the auspicious Shravana month when women buy jewellery for Varalakshmi Vratam.
Rubbishing rumours that the cash belonged to AP minister Balineni Srinivas Reddy, Balu said there was no truth in what the Opposition leaders were saying. Balu is a close aide of minister Balineni and the Opposition leaders got wind of the fact. Further, Balu also contested as the corporator candidate.
In view of the above facts, the seizure of the cash kicked up a political controversy and the TDP leaders alleged that Balineni’s cash was being shifted to Chennai illegally.
