Bengaleru: City Police arrested two individuals on Sunday, March 15, 2026, for allegedly attempting to bribe Odisha Congress Lawmakers who are currently staying at a private resort in Bidadi. The incident occurred on the eve of high-stakes Rajya Sabha elections.
According to a formal police complaint filed by Shri Ashok Kumar Das, deputy leader of the Odisha Congress Legislative Party, four individuals identified as Birendra Prasad, Suresh, Ajit Kumar Sahu, and Simachal Mohakud were involved in the attempt. Two of the men were apprehended at the resort while the others managed to flee.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar told reporters that the accused offered the lawmakers as much as 5 crore per vote and were reportedly found in possession of blank cheques and mobile phones that have since been seized. The eight Odisha MLAs had been moved to Bengaluru earlier this week to prevent potential poaching or horse-trading ahead of the Monday polls.
While the Congress party has accused the BJP of initiating a fresh round of Operation Lotus, BJP spokespersons in Odisha have dismissed the allegations as baseless claims meant to cover for a potential electoral defeat. Local authorities in Bengaluru South confirmed that an investigation is underway and that the arrested suspects are being interrogated to identify any wider political connections.