Poll panel has power to seize cash, court told
March 28th, 2011 - 8:32 pm ICT by IANSChennai, March 28 (IANS) The Election Commission of India Monday told the Madras High Court that it has powers to search vehicles and residences and seize unaccounted cash to prevent its misuse to buy voters or influence them during an election.
The EC’s contention came as it sought a stay on last week’s court order stopping the poll panel from searching and seizing unaccounted cash carried in vehicles. The court had ordered the panel to carry out searches only if it has credible information about the cash being carried for distribution among voters.
The interim court order came on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking that the court ban the poll panel from conducting arbitrary searches and seizures.
The EC contended that it was not able to take action on reports of cash distribution for voters. It also submitted that various political parties in meetings with the commission had complained of money being distributed among voters to influence their choices.
According to the panel, the vehicle searches have resulted in seizure of cash running into millions of rupees and also 9,000 detonators carried without any proper documents. It has also seized 3,623 litres of liquor.
- Check vehicles only on information: Election Commission told - Mar 23, 2011
- Karunanidhi attacks poll panel - Mar 26, 2011
- Arms, cash, illicit liquor: Punjab goes to political war (Punjab Newsletter) - Jan 08, 2012
- Book 'bribe-seeking' UP nominees: Poll panel - Jan 28, 2012
- Poll panel makes huge seizure of unaccounted cash in Uttar Pradesh - Jan 14, 2012
- Election Commission is winner in Punjab polls (Punjab Newsletter) - Feb 04, 2012
- A tale of drinks and drugs as Punjab votes - Jan 29, 2012
- Hours before poll panel's arrival, Rs.85 lakh seized in Punjab - Dec 26, 2011
- Cash for votes rains in Tamil Nadu, Rs.3.82 mn seized - Apr 03, 2011
- Rs.20 crore unaccounted cash seized in Tamil Nadu - Mar 26, 2011
- Special arrangements for Uttar Pradesh's women voters - Jan 17, 2012
- President's son quizzed over Rs.1 crore seizure - Feb 21, 2012
- Over Rs 7.5 crore unaccounted cash seized in Bengal, Assam - Mar 25, 2011
- Jharkhand Rajya Sabha poll on May 3 (Lead) - Apr 10, 2012
- Poll panel rejects Punjab's octroi abolition, more cash seized - Dec 27, 2011
Tags: cash distribution, choices, contention, court ban, ec, election commission of india, liquor, madras high court, money, political parties, poll, proper documents, public interest litigation, rupees, searches and seizures, seizure, vehicle searches