Fourteen persons belonging to the AIADMK were arrested for trying to distribute cash and gifts to voters in various parts of the district on Saturday.
Officials of the flying squads seized cash to the tune of Rs. 6.16 lakh and kind worth Rs. 1.88 lakh from them.
With the Assembly election less than 24 hours away, election officials have been intensifying their efforts to prevent distribution of cash and gifts by political parties.
Officials said though the cash seized from the political functionaries on Saturday was not huge, the number of cases was more. “The flying squads nabbed the persons and seized cash/kind in 17 cases in different parts of the district including at Tirupattur constituency, Katpadi, Arcot and K.V. Kuppam. All the persons involved in the act belonged to the AIADMK. A total of 14 persons have been arrested,” an official said.
Of the total Rs. 6.16 lakh, the highest amount seized was Rs. 2.28 lakh from Anaicut constituency.
Things worth Rs. 1.88 lakh were also seized. This included gifts meant for distribution to voters – 42 liquor bottles and 100 litres of arrack. Some of the party workers also abandoned the vehicles on seeing the squad. Two motorbikes and an autorickshaw have been seized, he added.
“In fact, officials also seized 28 model ballot papers from the political party workers. This is to indicate the order of voting particularly to people who are not educated,” he said.
In the last three days, 22 cases have been registered on political functionaries for trying to bribe voters. In this, 29 persons have been arrested. “Totally, cash of nearly Rs. 45 lakh and kind worth Rs. 1.88 lakh have been seized in the last three days,” he added.
However, officials are also aware that seizure of lesser amount meant that money has been distributed to smaller pockets.
