ECI Team Members Inquired About Cash Seizures, Interact with Police, CEO Officers

Hyderabad: Members of the Election Commission of India (ECI) who conducted a meeting with the law enforcement agencies directed the Director General of Police and state nodal officer to release the seized cash if the amount carried out is genuine based on proper verification.

Senior deputy election commissioner Dharmendra Sharma, senior deputy election commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas, and principal secretary of the ECI Avinash Kumar visited Hyderabad on Wednesday and interacted with CEO officials and police officials.

With the ECI releasing the notification for filing of nominations, ECI team members have conducted meetings with the State Election Commission and enquired about the arrangements for Assembly elections for which the CEO officials ascertained that foolproof arrangements have been made so far and the preparedness by the state election machinery for conducting free and fair polls.

ECI officials also convened a meeting with Director General of Police Anjani Kumar, Special Chief Secretary Sunil Sharma, Principal Secretary Vani Prasad, Additional DGP, CID Mahesh Bhagwat and others and directed them to focus on distribution of freebies and enhance the network to add the cost of it in the account of candidate concerned, after the approval of nominations.

The ECI team members were keen on finding out the time of clearance regarding the pending applications of voters lists and the status of printing, distribution of EPIC cards, and voter information slips. Dharmendra Sharma inquired about the status of setting up surveillance cameras at key polling stations.

Sharma directed the officials to issue prescribed forms for postal ballot for senior citizens, and PwD voters who wish to vote from the comfort of their homes, much in advance.