Check-posts are all set to come up in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district Mysuru for checking vehicles transporting cash even before the Election Commission of India announces the date of polls to the State Assembly.
At a meeting convened to discuss security issues with managers of various banks on Monday, Ravi Channanavar, Superintendent of Police, Mysuru district, said the police has informed bank representatives to ensure their personnel carry all necessary records pertaining to transportation of cash between branches or to the ATMs.
Though the poll dates are expected to be announced only in the first or second week of March, the check-posts in Mysuru district, particularly in sensitive areas, are expected to come up in the third week of February.
“The check-posts on the Kerala border in Bavali and Gundlupet are already functioning. We will be adding more force to prevent not just election-related malpractices but also other offences, including motor vehicle thefts,” the SP said.
K.N. Shivalingaiah, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, the Lead Bank in Mysuru district, said the district police has informed the banks that the check-posts will start checking vehicles carrying cash from February 20 and hence the banks are required to take necessary measures.
Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru D. Randeep, who is also the District Election Officer, justified the Police Department’s move and said the police need not wait for the model code of conduct (MCC) to come into force to activate the check-posts. “For, cases of transportation of cash without valid records have to be handed over to the income tax authorities in any case,” he said.
To start with, check-posts in Mysuru district, which is on Karnataka’s border with Kerala, are expected to come on inter-State and inter-district entry points with Mandya, Madikeri, Hassan and Chamarajanagar. Later, depending on the requirement, check-posts can come up on the borders of Assembly constituencies, Mr. Randeep added.
Mr. Shivalingaiah said the banks are also expecting routine directions from the Election Commission to monitor suspicious high value cash transactions and report the same to the authorities.
