Rs 17 lakh seized by ECI flying squad in Nilgiris on day of TN CM's visit

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami visited Nilgiris on Monday to campaign for AIADMK candidate M Thyagarajan.
Rs 17 lakh seized by ECI flying squad in Nilgiris on day of TN CM's visit
Rs 17 lakh seized by ECI flying squad in Nilgiris on day of TN CM's visit
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The flying squad of the Election Commission of India on Monday seized Rs 17 lakh, which was being transported without proper documents by a car. The vehicle was, incidentally, travelling close to the convoy of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Sources in the District Election Office in Nilgiris said the seizure was made in Elanalli junction by a team of nine members, headed by Nisha, the Deputy Tahsildar. The owner of the car claimed that the Rs 17,11,853 belonged to a needle manufacturing and trading company, and was being delivered to it. However, as there were no documents, the officials seized the cash.

Speaking to TNM, Suresh, the District Electoral Officer, said that the amount has been sent to the state treasury. “Since the cash seized is over Rs 10 lakh, we also alerted the Income Tax department about it. The money will be released after a due probe into the source, destination and documents,” he said. Brushing aside the claims that the car belonged to the Chief Minister's convoy, the officer said that it was moving only close to it.

“An FIR will be filed only after a thorough investigation is done in the matter," he added.

CM Edappadi K Palaniswami reached Nilgiris on Monday to campaign for AIADMK’s M Thyagarajan, who is contesting from the Nilgiris MP seat. He is going up against DMK's A Raja.

Tamil Nadu ranks first in the amount of cash without proper documents seized from vehicles after the Model Code of Conduct kicked in. Till Sunday, Rs 160 crore has been seized in cash across the state. The value of all seizures, including gold and silver jewellery, stand at almost Rs 400 crore. Andhra Pradesh, with Rs 114.18 crore cash seizure stood second as on Sunday.

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