Illegal cash worth Rs 7 cr seized in poll bound Assam

Nasim Zaidi, chief election commissioner, said the cash seized is much higher this time than in any previous occasion

With Assam going for assembly polls early next month, the circulation of black money in the state has increased significantly, as the election commission has seized Rs 7.12 crore illegal cash in the run up to the polls. Sharing this information, Nasim Zaidi, chief election commissioner, said the seizure of illegal cash has been “many many times higher” this time as compared to previous occasions.

“This time our machinery has done some very good work. Illegal cash worth more than Rs 7 crore has been seized as of today. This is many many times higher than previous occasion. We have asked our expenditure monitoring authorities to keep their control rooms open 24x7 and people are encouraged to lodge complains of any violation like distribution of money, liquor or gifts through call centres or mobile apps,” said Zaidi.

When asked if that was an indication towards increasing circulation of black money in the market, Zaidi said: “We believe that on account of our effective machinery and a very robust expenditure monitoring mechanism at the grass root, we have been able to check at the illegal movement of money this time. If more black money is circulated in the system, more would be seized by our monitoring teams.” He said the election commission was also keeping a close watch on paid news to check movement of black money. “The election commission will continue to lay great emphasis on detection and confirmation of paid news which has become a big source and of black money. Commission will take action on paid news,” Zaidi said.

He added that from the election commission point of view, the aim of expenditure monitoring was at regulating the legal limit and keep an eye on the illegal movement of money. He said the commission will collect intelligence on real time basis on violation related information.

The commission has set up 389 flying squads, 364 static surveillance teams and 355 check posts to check the movement of illegal money in the state.

The full commission led by Zaidi, AK Joti and OP Rawat, election commissioners, reviewed election preparedness in the state yesterday and today. The commission met political parties, district officials, senior civil and police officials, chief secretary and other senior officials of excise and income tax department.

A total of 1.99 crore voters will cast their votes in the two-phased state polls, to be held on April 4 and April 11.