Cheating case filed against Sriramulu

        Bellary (KTK), April 14 (PTI) A case of cheating
involving Rs 2.96 crore has been registered against BJP
Bellary candidate B Sriramulu on a complaint by a functionary
of his previous party BSR Congress who claimed he was promised
a ticket by him to contest the Lok Sabha polls.
        Sriramulu, who joined BJP recently, had issued a cheque
but it was dishonoured, the complainant, Somashekar, President
of BSR Congress Mysore district unit, alleged, police said.
        In the complaint, registered with Bellary rural police,
Somashekhar alleged he was promised ticket for Raichur Lok
Sabha constituency or an MLC seat and when he approached
Sriramulu for not honouring the promise, he was threatened.
        Sriramulu, however, dismissed the allegations as an
attempt to tarnish his image and a "political conspiracy"
against him. He said he would face the issue legally.
        Sriramulu, a one-time close associate of former minister
and mining baron Janardhana Reddy, had floated BSR Congress
two years ago but rejoined BJP, leaving his outfit. Senior BJP
leader Sushma Swaraj had opposed his entry into the party.