Activist ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy has moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition in the Madras High Court seeking directions to the Election Commission (EC) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to conduct a proper inquiry on the recent attempt by the State Bank of India (SBI) to transfer Rs. 570 crore through three containers.
Mr. Ramaswamy wanted the court to direct the EC to withhold the results of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled to be declared on May 19, till the probe is completed.
Voters bribed
In his plea, the activist alleged that political parties particularly AIADMK and the DMK bribed the voters across the State during the Assembly election that concluded on May 16.
Pointing out a recent statement issued by the EC, the petitioner said, “according the Chief Electoral officer, Tamil Nadu about Rs. 100 crores of unaccounted money was seized and above 50 per cent of that was unclaimed.”
In view of large scale seizures, elections for Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies were postponed by the Election Commission to May 23, the petitioner added.
Under such circumstances, a flying squad of the Election Commission stopped three trucks carrying Rs 570 crore without proper documents on May 14.
Later, it was claimed that the cash belonged to the SBI, Coimbatore which was being transferred to a neighbouring State.
