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Three trucks with hooping Rs 570 crore in cash sized in poll-bound Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district by Election Commission authorities today.
Though the trucks have not been opened yet, the drivers claim that the cash belonged to State Bank of India and is being transported to Vijayawada.
“Preliminary INQUIRY revealed that the money belonged to SBI. But the security guards didn’t carry original documents but only photocopies. Since it raised suspicion, the incident is being probed,” Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni told reporters. “A special team comprising IT officials and bank officials has been formed and sent there to probe the incident.”
Cash was being transferred to Vijaywada, Mr. Lakhoni added.
The Election Commission has formed an investigating committee to look into the matter by Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni.
Officials said that the vehicle numbers did not match the documents, aroused suspicion.
The Election Commission has so far recovered over Rs 100 crore unaccounted cash in Tamil Nadu since poll notification in March.
Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on May 16.
तमिलनाडु: चुनावों से ठीक पहले चुनाव आयोग ने पकड़े 570 करोड़ रुपयेhttps://t.co/qMbVgf36gC
— NBT Hindi News (@NavbharatTimes) May 14, 2016
Keeping in view the abuse of money power in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission 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 will be held on May 19.
