Officials impound Rs 12 lakh in Tirunelveli, return on scrutiny
Enquiry with three employees of the private company revealed that the cash was meant for loading City union ATMs.
Tirunelveli: An Election Commission flying squad, monitoring the implementation of the model code of conduct and election expenditure in Tirunelveli Assembly constituency on Friday seized Rs 12,38,595. The cash was, however, returned when supporting documents were submitted later in the afternoon.
A flying squad led by tahsildar Murugan conducted vehicle check up at a toll gate at Abishegapatti near Tirunelveli on the Tenkasi-Tirunelveli main road on Friday morning. During the check up, the flying squad found Rs 79,38,595 in a car, said to have been hired by a private banking outsourcing company. Enquiry with three employees of the private company revealed that the cash was meant for loading City union ATMs. However, there were documents for only a part - Rs 67 lakh. The rest - Rs 12,38,595 was said to have been collected under their pick-up cash scheme from a private jeweller and a textile showroom to be deposited in HDFC bank.
Officials however were not convinced and passed on the information to the Tirunelveli district collector Karunaharan, who is also the district election officer. When the latter began his enquiry, proper supporting documents for the amount were submitted by the Tirunelveli branch of HDFC and hence the cash was returned.