New Delhi: The surveillance teams of the Election Commission (EC) have seized more than Rs 154 crores in cash in poll-bound states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry and also from states where the elections are underway.
Among all states, Tamil Nadu drew the attention of the EC with maximum seizure of Rs 94 crore (cash) by the surveillance teams. Beside cash, gold worth rupees several crores were also seized from the land of temples.
A compare to 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly Election, this year it was a record cash haul. In 2011, EC had seized only Rs 35 crore as compare to Rs 94 crores (approx) this year.
An AIADMK ward councilor was arrested after Rs 7 lakh unaccounted cash was recovered from his house. Earlier this month Rs 9 lakh was seized from AISMK chief R Sarathkumar's house in Chennai.
The EC, in a latest data said, out of the total Rs 94.88 crore seized in Tamil Nadu, Rs 45.65 crore was released after verification, as it was "not linked" to any political party or candidate at the hustings.
A total of Rs 22.87 crore has been seized in Kerala, out of which Rs 1.43 crore has been released while in poll-bound Puducherry, out of the total seizure of Rs 4.08 crore, Rs 4.3 crore has been released.
Similar seizures in West Bengal and Assam, where polls have ended, stand at Rs 20.75 crore (Rs 4.67 crore released) and Rs 12.33 crore (Rs 5.42 crore released) respectively.
"The total progressive figure for cash seizures in states, as of yesterday, stands at Rs 154.91 crore. The seized cash, in some cases, is being released after ascertaining the bona fide and legitimate purpose of the funds and post verification that it does not have links to a political party or candidate," a senior official said.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go to polls in a single phase on May 16.
Keeping in view the abuse of money power in Tamil Nadu, the EC had last month also issued some special instructions to be followed by observers and members of the surveillance teams deployed in the state.
The Commission had sought "stepped-up vigil" across Tamil Nadu to detect and intercept cash and other inducements being used to lure voters and ensure that a level-playing field is maintained.
The counting of votes in all the five states is slated for May 19.
The Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 4 after the Commission had announced the schedule for the Assembly polls.
(With PTI inputs)
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