Sitting Congress MLA and 2018 assembly election candidate for Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwarinagar constituency Munirathna Naidu has been booked by the Election Commission for trying to distribute freebies worth Rs 90 lakh.

In the FIR copy accessed by Republic TV, Munirathna and five others have been named as accused. Specifics of the freebies to be distributed, as well as their value has been listed. It comprises 5018 t-shirts with Munirathna's photo and 23,393 half pants of different colours.

Here's the FIR copy:

Munirathna emerged at the very center of the biggest scandal of this election which involved the shocking recovery of almost 10,000 genuine voter ID cards and other suspicious materials at an apartment in Rajarajeshwarinagar on Tuesday.

READ | Karnataka Elections 2018: BJP Makes Sensational Poll-rigging Charge Against Congress As EC Confirms Seizing Almost 10,000 Voter ID Cards From A Flat

At that time, both Congress and BJP high-commands had held late night briefings and counter-briefings where they tried to pin the blame for the operation on each other. Munirathna's name had cropped up early when two former Karnataka chief ministers, Yeddyurappa and Sadananda Gowda had tweeted about the matter.

Over 20000 Voter IDs hoarded by RR Nagara @INCKarnataka candidate Munirathna Naidu. Democracy subverted by Congress' illegal electoral malpractice. It may be a tip of iceberg. @ceo_karnataka needs to be vigilant & crackdown on INC's nefarious elements. #congresscheatsdemocracy https://t.co/p3osZWblEz — B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) May 8, 2018

The Democracy being attacked in Bengaluru . I am shocked at the incident . More than 20000 Voter ID cards found at private apartment . I visited the place personally . This mockery at behest of @INCIndia Rajarajeshwari Nagara Candidate Munirathna Naidu #congresscheatsdemocracy pic.twitter.com/fZHzgbcOio — Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) May 8, 2018

On Wednesday, Republic TV's #BribeForVotes expose had revealed that the recovered voter IDs were part of a systematic plot where economically vulnerable sections in the area were profiled and their 'needs' ascertained. They were to be repayed (bribed) in cash or in kind upon voting for a specific candidate in the May 12 polls.

READ | Karnataka Elections 2018: Bribe For Votes Scam Cracked Open, Exploitation Of Poor For Electoral Gain Exposed

Republic TV stung a tout who was involved in collecting the voter IDs who admitted to doing so at Munirathna's behest, and Munirathna himself admitted that his cards and pamphlets were found in the flat along with the voter IDs, visual evidence of which has been accessed.

READ | 'Seized Voter IDs Genuine, Door-to-door Surveys Were Being Carried Out', Says Karnataka CEO Confirming Bribe-for-votes Operation

The BJP had demanded the elections in Rajarajeshwarinagar be countermanded:

BJP demands countermanding of elections in AC 154 Raj Rajeshwari Nagar in light of latest revelations of tens of thousands of fake voter ID and empty packets of hard currency. This is Congress conspiracy to rig election , in face of their imminent defeat. — Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) May 8, 2018

The Congress has continuously alleged that it was the BJP that was collecting the voter ID cards citing that the apartment in question was a BJP corporator. However, Manjula Nanjamari, the flat owner said while speaking to Republic TV that she had no knowledge of the operation that was ongoing and wasn't connected to the BJP for the last six years.