A midnight police raid at a hotel in Kerala's Palakkad on suspicion of black money being brought for electioneering for Nov 20 bypoll sparked a political row on Wednesday, with CPM and BJP targeting Congress. Police searched 12 rooms in the hotel, including those occupied by women Congress functionaries Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman. The raid led to clashes between Congress supporters and police at the hotel, with CPM and BJP workers assembling there, leading to tension.

Later, police seized the hard disk of 22 CCTV cameras from the hotel. Cyber cell experts and cops also questioned its staff members..