Local residents detained a Jamaat-e-Islami leader along with Tk2 lakh in cash in Muradnagar, Cumilla, and handed him over to the police on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident took place around 11am in Niamatkandi village under Chaliakandi Union, according to local sources.
The detained Maulana Habibur Rahman Helali serves as the chief coordinator for the Saliakandi polling centre of Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate Yusuf Hakim Sohel in the Cumilla-3 (Muradnagar) constituency.
Residents said Chaliakandi Union Helali arrived in the village by private car and allegedly started distributing money secretly among voters.
Locals captured him and informed the administration. They claimed two bundles of cash, amounting to Tk2 lakh, were recovered from his possession.
Habibur Rahman Helali is the son of Sundar Ali of Dhamghar village in the upazila.
On information, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Sakib Hasan Khan went to the spot. The private car used for transport was seized and two people, including the driver, were handed over to Muradnagar Police Station.
The executive magistrate said the incident did not occur under the direct supervision of a magistrate, so action under the Mobile Court Act was not possible.
The detainees were shown arrested and handed over to the police for further action through a judicial inquiry process.
In connection with the incident, Bangladesh Congress-nominated candidate Md Khorshed Alam filed a written complaint with Muradnagar Police Station. In the complaint, he alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Yusuf Hakim Sohel violated the election code of conduct and demanded legal action against the party leaders and activists.
Denying the allegation, Habibur Rahman Helali said he had come to the area as part of organisational duties.
