The Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni has told that during a regular vehicle check, cash to the tune of Rs. 49 Lakhs was seized from a vehicle in T. Nagar and there were no documents to support the claim that the cash was not to be used for election purposes, and has also seized over Rs. 1 crore in cash and tokens for petrol distribution from various places across the State, including Rs. 49 Lakhs in Chennai.
Lakhoni has also added that there have been several raids across the State and we have seized over Rs. 1 crore on Sunday. The total amount seized so far since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect is Rs. 87.5 crore. The EC officials have also seized tokens for distribution of petrol in certain places in Thanjavur and Erode districts and FIRs have been filed in connection with these incidents and the petrol bunks have been sealed.
Lakhoni has also state that the number of flying squads per constituency will be increased from 2 squads in 3 shifts to 25 squads per constituency and they will be in rounds in 2 to 3 villages and any one found distributing will be dealt sternly and may get arrested.
He has told that in addition to the over 1,000 flying squads functioning now, an additional 5,644 zonal parties would function as flying squads and by Monday evening, all 300 companies of paramilitary personnel meant to be deployed across all 234 constituencies in the State would reach their positions.
