Flying squads seize more than ₹13cr cash in four days
40% Poll Code Violation Cases In 2014 Ended In Conviction
B.Sivakumar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:15.03.2019
Election surveillance teams have seized ₹13.35 crore in form of cash, cheques and promissory notes in the last four days from across the state after the model code of conduct came into force on Sunday.
In the latest incident, flying squad officials in Trichy recovered 192 signed cheques worth ₹8.76 crore and two promissory notes worth ₹1.2 crore from a SUV in Srirangam assembly constituency late on Thursday.
“Any person who carries ₹50,000 or more in cash is being questioned. People carrying proper papers to show the source of money are allowed to go. If they fail to explain the source of money, it is seized,” said state chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo. In case of seizure of ₹10 lakh or more from a person, the information is immediately passed on to the income tax department, he said. Income tax department has appointed joint director Murali Mohan as the nodal officer for handling election-related work.
Sahoo said a three-member committee would be formed in each district to avoid causing inconvenience to genuine businessmen carrying cash. The committee shall look into all cases of cash seizures as per the standard operating procedure and take immediate steps to release the money to those who produce proper documents, he said.
While static surveillance teams have taken positions on major roads from the date of notification, the teams would be strengthened in the last 72 hours before the polls, particularly in expenditure sensitive pockets, the CEO said. If credible information was available, the teams could check any premises including transport hubs, residences and offices, he said. The income tax investigation wing has opened a separate control room with a tollfree number — 1800425666 — to check transportation and distribution of cash and other valuables.
Various agencies in Tamil Nadu had seized ₹18.31 crore in cash during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and ₹54 crore during the 2016 assembly elections.
The conviction rate in pollrelated cases in 2014 was more than 40% in Tamil Nadu, said an election department official. In the 2014 polls, 3,746 cases were registered, of which 2,907 were charge-sheeted and 1,548 convicted. In the southern districts, 1,856 FIRs were registered and Ramanathapuram led the list with 398 cases.
Of the 6,616 FIRs registered in the 2016 elections, 2010 cases (30%) resulted in convictions.
“Most cases were against cadres involved in defacing walls, distribution of cash or influencing voters near polling booths. There were very few cases involving senior leaders,” said a senior election department official.
40% Poll Code Violation Cases In 2014 Ended In Conviction
B.Sivakumar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:15.03.2019
Election surveillance teams have seized ₹13.35 crore in form of cash, cheques and promissory notes in the last four days from across the state after the model code of conduct came into force on Sunday.
In the latest incident, flying squad officials in Trichy recovered 192 signed cheques worth ₹8.76 crore and two promissory notes worth ₹1.2 crore from a SUV in Srirangam assembly constituency late on Thursday.
“Any person who carries ₹50,000 or more in cash is being questioned. People carrying proper papers to show the source of money are allowed to go. If they fail to explain the source of money, it is seized,” said state chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo. In case of seizure of ₹10 lakh or more from a person, the information is immediately passed on to the income tax department, he said. Income tax department has appointed joint director Murali Mohan as the nodal officer for handling election-related work.
Sahoo said a three-member committee would be formed in each district to avoid causing inconvenience to genuine businessmen carrying cash. The committee shall look into all cases of cash seizures as per the standard operating procedure and take immediate steps to release the money to those who produce proper documents, he said.
While static surveillance teams have taken positions on major roads from the date of notification, the teams would be strengthened in the last 72 hours before the polls, particularly in expenditure sensitive pockets, the CEO said. If credible information was available, the teams could check any premises including transport hubs, residences and offices, he said. The income tax investigation wing has opened a separate control room with a tollfree number — 1800425666 — to check transportation and distribution of cash and other valuables.
Various agencies in Tamil Nadu had seized ₹18.31 crore in cash during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and ₹54 crore during the 2016 assembly elections.
The conviction rate in pollrelated cases in 2014 was more than 40% in Tamil Nadu, said an election department official. In the 2014 polls, 3,746 cases were registered, of which 2,907 were charge-sheeted and 1,548 convicted. In the southern districts, 1,856 FIRs were registered and Ramanathapuram led the list with 398 cases.
Of the 6,616 FIRs registered in the 2016 elections, 2010 cases (30%) resulted in convictions.
“Most cases were against cadres involved in defacing walls, distribution of cash or influencing voters near polling booths. There were very few cases involving senior leaders,” said a senior election department official.
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