Kishor Nath, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Barkhola in Assam’s Cachar district, was detained in West Bengal on Wednesday night after allegations surfaced that he was distributing cash to voters during election campaigning. Nath was reportedly intercepted in North 24 Parganas while canvassing support for BJP candidate Rekha Patra in Hingalganj.

Local residents claimed Nath was handing out ₹5,000 in cash under the cover of darkness. His vehicle was stopped, and police from Hingalganj Police Station subsequently detained him. A video of the incident quickly spread across social media, drawing significant attention in Assam’s Barak Valley, particularly in Cachar district.

Nath, however, rejected the accusations, calling them unfounded. He maintained that his visit was to attend a temple and clarified that a BJP worker accompanying him had given ₹5,000 to a kirtan committee, not to voters. Nath further alleged that members of a rival political party staged the incident to tarnish his image. He added that he himself had informed the police when the situation grew tense.

Police officials have yet to issue a detailed statement, and an investigation into the matter is currently underway.