Hyderabad: A pickpocket allegedly stole Rs 82,000 from a local Congress leader during a party meeting to welcome UPA Presidential poll nominee Meira Kumar at the Gandhi Bhavan on Monday. The cash was kept in his pocket, Congress leader from Chandrayangutta M. Venkatesh alleged in his complaint to the police.

According to sources, a large crowd of party workers and leaders had gathered at around 11 am when Ms Kumar addressed a meeting to canvass for votes in the Presidential election, in the courtyard of Gandhi Bhavan.

Mr Venkatesh said he was standing in the crowd when his pocket was picked. He realised the cash was missing only after the meeting was over, he told the police.

“We have booked a case and started an investigation,” said a police official from Begum Bazaar police station. He said there were no CCTV cameras at the premises, and they could not get any footage of the incident.