A Rs2 cr theft the BJP cannot admit

A case of “theft” —  or, perhaps, “misappropriation” — of around Rs2 crore from the BJP headquarters in the capital has got the party in a fix.

The first problem is that they cannot officially admit this since the money cannot be accounted for, despite the BJP’s claims of accepting donations only in “white”. Besides, as a party worker said, “Prima facie, it seems to be an insider’s job. An internal problem should be sorted out internally.” So, no complaint has been lodged with the police and no official investigations are on.

“The amount was part of the monetary contributions from the state units and has gone missing either on the way or after reaching the headquarters. We are also tallying the exact figure sent from the state capitals to see if the amount delivered was over-estimated,” an office-bearer said.

The party is understood to have hired a private detective agency to probe the mystery of the missing money. Since the party is tight-lipped about the case, office-bearers did not divulge the name of the detective agency. A party functionary said an internal inquiry was also being conducted by a leader said to have good investigating skills. “Whoever did it is most likely be found,” he said.

Identifying the individual or persons who carried this out is a problem. Further, it would not be possible to simply walk away with such a large sum unnoticed - or so they reckon.

Whoever did it had the volume in mind, since he or she reportedly took out Rs1,000 denomination currency notes. A larger amount than the sum stolen was reportedly left behind because it was in Rs500 and Rs100 notes.

Taking out the money from the safe it was kept in was not just anybody’s job: a party worker said it is a safe that needs more than one key to unlock.  Suggestions to install close circuit TV cameras was ruled out, since it  meant  “all kinds of things could get recorded” a BJP leader said.