EC cautions people to have valid papers if they are carrying cash above ₹50,000

Unexplained cash over that sum will be seized: Sanjiv Kumar

March 15, 2019 12:33 am | Updated 12:33 am IST - Bengaluru

All eyes:  A surveillance team checking vehicles at a check-post in Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday.

All eyes: A surveillance team checking vehicles at a check-post in Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday.

The Election Commission has cautioned people to have valid documents if they are carrying cash above ₹50,000 and new articles and gifts worth over ₹10,000.

“Unexplained cash above ₹50,000 will be seized. It will be released only after it is proven that it has nothing to do with the elections. If the seized amount from any individual is above ₹10 lakh, it will be referred to the Income Tax Department,” Sanjiv Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer for Karnataka, said on Thursday .

He told reporters that enforcement had been stepped up and ₹30.1 lakh in cash and 73,111 litres of liquor worth ₹4.05 crore had been seized since Sunday when the model code of conduct came into force.

Appealing to the public to cooperate during inspection of vehicles and luggage, he said, “In case of any hindrance at the check- posts despite having all necessary documents, such cases will be looked into by the committees under the chairmanship of the chief executive officers of the jurisdictional zilla panchayats. Affected persons can file a compliant to this committee in their district,” he said.

Likewise, banks and other financial institutions transporting cash should follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) for transportation of clean cash prescribed by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Financial Services), the CEO said.

Bank should ensure that the cash vans of outsourced agencies/companies carrying that bank’s cash do not carry cash of any third party agencies/individuals except the banks.

EC permission not needed for private functions

There is no need for people to seek permission from the Election Commission to hold private events such as weddings and birthday parties. Mr. Kumar said that many individuals and non-political organisations are approaching the district election officers and model code of conduct (MCC) teams seeking permission to conduct private events. “However, enforcement authorities will keep an eye on such events to see if they are funded by political parties or candidates,” he said.

Status of seizures made during 2018 Assembly polls

Of the total seizure of ₹92.89 crore made during the 2018 Assembly polls, the cash release committees constituted in each district investigated and released ₹ 35.16 crore as the money was not found to be meant for electoral malpractices, said Mr. Kumar.

While, ₹42.4 crore is with the Income Tax Department under various proceedings, the remaining ₹15.33 crore is covered by 273 cases under IPC/RP Act and is under investigation in the court. Likewise, items worth ₹66.13 (other than cash and liquor) seized then are covered by 1019 IPC/RP Act and investigation is on. Most of the items are in the custody of courts, he added.

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