Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP and BJD leaders on Monday accused each other of trying to lure voters with money ahead of the bypoll to Bijepur Assembly constituency.

"I dare the Bargarh SP to hand over the case to the Enforcement Directorate and income tax department within half an hour. The truth will come out," said Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said while talking to reporters here on Monday.

He was referring to the seizure of Rs 40.5 lakh from a car in Bargarh two days ago.

Pradhan said: "If the BJD is alleging that the cash belongs to BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, then BJD leader Prasanna Acharya can be also be charged because he was associated with the RSS and VHP earlier. Chief minister Naven Patnaik is well are aware that half a dozen BJD members were members of the RSS in the past."

However, Acharya said he was ready to face any probe.

"We have drawn attention of the Election Commission in this connection. The commission can hand over the case to Enforcement Directorate and income tax department for investigation. But if they point finger at my character, it will boomerang on them," he said.

Earlier, the police had detained two persons near check gate at Mahulipali Square on the Padampur-Bijepur road while the two were transporting around Rs 40 lakh cash in car on Saturday. Later on Sunday, Akash Agarwal and his father Om Prakash Agarwal were arrested when they failed to provide any satisfactory answer as to where they got the cash.

The state witnessed intense war of words between the two parties as Bijepur bypoll is scheduled to be held on Saturday.

On Tuesday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to undertake a whirlwind tour of the district to campaign for party candidate Rita Sahu.

Naveen will address rallies in Barpali block on Wednesday and will hold another public meeting in Gaisilet, Padampur and Bijepur blocks of the constituency the next day.

On the other hand, TV actress Smriti Irani will be the star campaigner for BJP to counter the BJD. She will canvass for the party candidate Ashok Panigrahi in Gaisilet block on Wednesday.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan and other senior leaders, including former Union minister Srikant Jena and Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra have been campaigning in bullock carts for their party candidate Pranay Sahu.