Never approached anyone for BJP election fund: IPS officer

A senior IPS officer on Thursday said he had never been approached by anyone to raise election funds for Chhattisgarh's ruling BJP.

"Whatever has appeared in a section of media on Thursday that I wanted to go on long leave because I had been given a fund target for the coming assembly polls are completely baseless and a bundle of lies," Raipur district Superintendent of Police O.P. Pal said.

Pal stirred a controversy when he filed an application for six-month's leave after he was allegedly given a target by seniors to raise funds for the government.

Chhattisgarh goes to the polls by November.

"I have moved a leave application entirely based on a family reason. It has nothing to do with the other issues. Some people have gived it a twist," Pal said.

"I will proceed on leave only after it is granted... otherwise, I will continue to do the job the way I am doing," the police officer added.

The opposition Congress issued a statement on Thursday, accusing the state government of "pressuring the officers in the state to raise massive election fund for the BJP".

"The application moved by the Raipur SP for a long leave after he was pressurised by higher authorities to make election fund collection, is a highly serious issue," said the Congress statement.

It said government officers in the state were now feeling disturbed as they have been given a specific target for collecting election fund for the ruling party.