A six-member team of poll flying squad sprang a surprise to State BJP President and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa by checking the baggage he was carrying with him while boarding the helicopter in the city around 12:30 noon.

The poll staff rushed to the helipad after knowing that the BJP leader was about to fly to Raichur by air and checked the bags he was about to carry with him. But they did not find any cash or other valuables. Later, they allowed him to depart from the city. A videographer was recording the examination of the luggage and the BJP leader was seated in the helicopter during the check.

#WATCH Election Commission flying squad checks luggage of former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa at helipad in Shivamogga, Karnataka pic.twitter.com/uZAdRCA5sO — ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2019

Reacting to it, District BJP Unit General Secretary D S Arun, son of former chairman of legislative council D H Shankaramurthy told DH that there is nothing surprising in it. The poll officials discharged their duties and our leader was not carrying any cash or valuables. There is no need to politicize this.

Deputy Commissioner K A Dayananda, who is also District Election Officer told DH that poll officials have seized unaccounted cash of Rs 2.55 crore in various check posts in the district so far.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's vehicle was also checked by poll flying squad in the check post at Karehalli in Bhadravathi taluk on April 3 while he was heading towards Shivamogga to accompany Madhu Bangarappa, nominee of coalition partners, while filing nomination papers on April 3.

The officials had stopped the vehicle at the check-post when it was heading towards Bhadravathi from Tarikere, and inspected the vehicle for three minutes. They noted down the name of the driver, vehicle registration number, and permitted their journey towards Shivamogga.

When Kumaraswamy told the staff that their vehicle was checked at Tarikere, the staff replied that it was the last check-post of Chikkamagaluru district, and this is the first check-post of Shivamogga district.