Bantwal : There has arisen a controversy after it came to light that  a ruling party councillor of Bantwal TMC  has signed the attendance registere despite abstaining from the council meet held on Tuesday June 17. The councillor is Mohammad Sharief said to be an accused in the Brahmarakootlu toll gate vandalism.

Some opposition councillors who have sought information through RTI have now decided to lodge a complaint with the Bantwal TMC Chief Officer and the Deputy Commissioner.

The Bantwal TMC has a total of 23 members and at the general meeting held on Monday ruling party member Mohammad Sharief and Opposition Councillor Devadas Shetty had abstained.

However, on inspection of the attendance register, it was found that B Devadas Shetty was marked absent while  Mohammad Sharief was marked present, with his signature too found  in the register.

BJP councillors have alleged that Sharief who arrived after conclusion of the meeting, signed the register in the presence of the TMC Chairperson.

As per the rules, the membership of a councillor will stand cancelled if be abstains from three successive meets. Mohammad Sharief has already abstained from two meets. As he has also not secured bail in the toll gate vandalism case,  he is also wanted  by the police.