Just Rs 5 cr of Rs 54.17cr seized in state reclaimed, says EC

Of the Rs 54.17 crore in seized in Tamil Nadu since the model code of conduct came into force on March 1, only Rs 5 crore has been accounted for and retured, according to the Election Commission. "Very few people are coming to claim the seized amount which makes it appear that most of it is unaccounted or black money," a senior EC official told TOI.The EC flying squad seized Rs 29.87 crore,
the Income Tax department Rs 15.06 crore and the police Rs 9.24 crore from. Of this "only Rs 5 crore was reclaimed before the election on April 13. No one came to claim the money after the election," chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar told TOI. The seized money would be returned only a clearance certificate from the Income Tax department was produced, he said.

The Madras high court on April 1 passed orders on a batch of writ petitions relating to the EC's search and seizure process. In addition to objecting to searches conducted at homes, the petitions also prayed that there be no obstruction to the free flow of road traffic and more check posts be put up on major roads. "The facts are that the EC has seized huge amounts of cash and other articles carried by different persons in their vehicles. Curiously enough, not a single affected person, from whose possession cash or other articles have been seized while carrying the same in vehicles or other modes of transport, have come forward to challenge the EC action," the order said. Previously, a Division Bench had said it was necessary for authorities to arrive at their "subjective satisfaction" and record reasons for a search before it was conducted. The First Bench overruled this saying it would amount to "curbing the powers of the Election Commission."