Bhubaneswar/Bengaluru: Based on a complaint filed by Deputy Leader of the Odisha Congress Legislative Party Ashok Kumar Das, the Bengaluru Police have arrested four individuals for allegedly attempting to bribe Congress MLAs from Odisha ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The Bidadi Police in Bengaluru South district arrested the accused, identified as Birendra Prasad, Suresh, Ajit Kumar Sahu and Simachal Mohakud.

According to the complaint lodged by Das, who is also the Congress MLA from Basudebpur, the four accused met Odisha Congress MLAs on March 15 and allegedly offered them ₹5 crore each to cross-vote in favour of the BJP during the Rajya Sabha polls. When the MLAs refused the offer, the accused allegedly threatened them with dire consequences upon their return to Odisha.

Notably, eight Congress MLAs from Odisha have been staying in Bengaluru since March 12 amid concerns over possible poaching attempts ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and MP Saptagiri Ulaka alleged the accused had come with blank cheques and an offer of ₹5 crore per MLA. He further claimed during police interrogation, the name of Independent candidate Dilip Ray had surfaced.

“We suspect not only Dilip Ray but also Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is involved in this horse-trading. We have filed an FIR stating attempts were made to buy our MLAs by offering financial inducements and demanding a proper investigation. They also threatened our MLAs, saying they would not be allowed to return to Odisha, and allegedly tried to kidnap them. This is very unfortunate. There is no place for horse-trading in politics. If anything happens to our MLAs, CM Majhi will be held responsible,” Ulaka alleged.

The development comes amid rising political tensions ahead of the Rajya Sabha election scheduled to be held on March 16.