Kerala police have have askedd state BJP chief K Surendran to appear on July 6, for questioning in a case linked to theft of alleged hawala money ahead of the April 6 assembly elections, sources told NDTV.

A man filed a complaint claiming a gang stole ₹ 25 lakh on the Ernakulam-Thrissur highway, a day after the polls. Kerala police later claimed that the amount was part of around ₹ 3.5 crore hawala money.

The police have also claimed the man had been transporting the money for the BJP, a charge vehemently denied by the party.

"It is only because we are 100 per cent confident that this has nothing to do with the BJP that we have welcomed any probe by the police. Whoever calls, we will cooperate," Surendran had said last month.

The Left and the Congress, however, have been targeting the BJP over the matter, accusing it of using black money in the election.

Several people, including BJP leaders of the state, have been questioned in the case.

K Surendran is also facing two cases for allegedly bribing candidates. Both the cases were filed last month.

The first FIR against Mr Surendran was filed for allegedly bribing a rival candidate into withdrawing his election nomination.