In UP, MLA will murder for money

New Delhi: A CNN IBN investigation a year ago exposed UP politicians taking bribes and promising that they would do any get work done—even aid drug trafficking.

That investigation led to a minister’s sacking, MLAs’ suspension and our channel being targeted by politicians.

But the rot in UP politics runs deeper. A day before the UP Assembly elections, a CNN-IBN and Cobrapost investigation exposes a candidate who is willing to commit murder in return for election funding and another who uses the hawala channel for funds.

Posing as representatives of a fake corporation, reporters offered Kalyan Singh Dohre, the BSP's sitting MLA and candidate from Kannauj , election funds if he would commit a murder.

Dohre, on hidden camera, accepted the deal and was ready to carry out fake encounters. He boasted how he had murdered opponents in the past.

“I have had five encounters done,” said Dohre.

CNN-IBN: Those killed were all criminals?

Dohre: Not all. Just one.

CNN-IBN: What do you expect from us?

Dohre: I need 50 lakhs from you

Dohre also explained how booth capturing would be his winning strategy in this election. “If others capture booths we'll capture more than 50 booths,” he said.

To fix the deal Dohre took a Rs 2,000 bribe on camera.

Next, we meet Samajwadi Party Madan Gautam, MLA and candidate from Ajitmal.

CNN-IBN: What will your election cost be?

Guam: About Rs 2 core.

CNN-IBN: To become an MLA?

Guam: Right, to become an MLA.

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Gautam admits that buying votes is his winning mantra.

CNN-IBN: In 2002 it was Rs 20 lakh, after that?

Gautam: Next time, about Rs Rs 40 lakh.

CNN-IBN: 40 lakh!

CNN-IBN: How many dummy candidates do you have this time ?

Gautam: Four dummies.

CNN-IBN: So how much per candidate?

Gautam: Rs 10 lakh on each candidate..

Next on our appointment list is SP MLA Prem Singh Daroga, who admits that he spent more than the law permits.

CNN-IBN: How much have you spent ?

Daroga: Already Rs 15 lakh. I have 150 cars, which run without flags. Our records will say 8-10 cars.

He also told us that he uses `hawala' transactions regularly to fund himself

Daroga: You can't transfer lots of cash legally.

CNN-IBN: You have other means ?

Daroga: Any amount in Mathura-Agra area—Rs 4, 6,10 crore!

CNN-IBN: Through `hawala' ?

Daroga: Call it what you like.

The Election Commission has a strict code of conduct for the UP polls—politicians like Dohre, Gautam and Daroga prove that to them it’s a joke.

(CNN-IBN's Rohit Khanna and Jamshed Khan, Sushant Pathak, Syed Masroor, Ashish Agrawal from Cobrapost)