The election expenditure monitoring officials on Sunday seized over Rs. 1 crore in cash and tokens for petrol distribution from various places across the State, including Rs. 49 lakh in Chennai. During a regular vehicle check, cash to the tune of Rs. 49 lakh was seized from a vehicle in T. Nagar and there were no documents to support the claim that the cash was not to be used for election purposes, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said.
In another incident at Ariyalur, election officials conducted a raid in a house and seized Rs. 8.9 lakh in cash. “There have been several raids across the State and we have seized over Rs. 1 crore on Sunday. The total amount seized so far since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect is Rs. 87.5 crore,” he added.
Though a raid was conducted on a private premises in MRC Nagar, no money was seized as of 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, Mr. Lakhoni and a senior Income Tax Department official confirmed. EC officials also seized tokens for distribution of petrol in certain places in Thanjavur and Erode districts. FIRs have been filed in connection with these incidents and the petrol bunks have been sealed.
More flying squads
The zonal parties, which are involved in the election process would double up as flying squads from May 11, which would increase the number of flying squads by 10 fold.
“The number of flying squads per constituency will be increased from 2 squads in 3 shifts to 25 squads per constituency. They will be in rounds in 2 to 3 villages. Any one found distributing will be dealt sternly and may get arrested,” Mr. Lakhoni said. In addition to the over 1,000 flying squads functioning now, an additional 5,644 zonal parties would function as flying squads, he added.
By Monday evening, all 300 companies of paramilitary personnel meant to be deployed across all 234 constituencies in the State would reach their positions, he said.
Also, tokens for petrol distribution were seized from various places across the State
