Election Commission lists out reasons for rescinding polls

Chennai: Several currency counting machines were also seized along with
some unregistered ambulance vehicles, which were suspected for transporting the money in Aravakurichi Assembly constituency during raids on residence of Ambunathan, son of Periyasami.

A case was registered under various sections of IPC and section 5 of Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper use) Act, 1950. The aforesaid seizure of money and gift items gave rise to a petition from the opposition parties demanding a CBI inquiry in the matter.

On May 10, the income tax department conducted another search in the residence of K.C. Palanisamy, candidate of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Aravakurichi Assembly constituency, and his son K.C.P. Sivaraman in Karur and Chennai respectively.

The total cash seized was Rs 1.98 crore,  of which Rs 95 lakh was seized from the house of Palanisamy. The income tax department had  videographed both the searches and seizures. Further, seven FIRs had been registered in Aravakurichi constituency.

In one of these FIRs, registered under section 171B IPC, the complaint was that a person was distributing money to some people in the constituency and when the officials reached the spot, the person fled the scene abandoning Rs 68,000.

Furthermore, 429 litres of liquor had been seized in the constituency and 33 complaints of money distribution registered in the Grievance Redress portal on money distribution of the constituency set up by the election authorities”, read the detailed EC report explaining that the rescind notification has been ordered due to the incidents.