EC asks two banks to explain cash drafts to TMC

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested the the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to enquire into the conduct of two commercial banks which made demand drafts of Rs 1.33 crore for the Trinamool Congress, besides seeking an explanation from the party on this.

ECI instructions to parties are to avoid all use of cash in the polls. “We have written to the chairmen of Allahabad Bank and United Bank of India and also requested RBI to inquire,” said joint chief electoral officer Dibyendu Sarkar. There was one draft of Rs 1.23 crore made by United Bank of India and another of Rs 10 lakh by Allahabad Bank.

The pay order by UBI was on March 23 in favour of a Visual Audio and the draft of Rs 10 lakh by Allahabad Bank was on April 24 in favour of M Power Global Access India Pvt Ltd.

“It may be mentioned here that the Commission in its all-party meeting and through various instructions has advised all the parties to avoid transactions in cash during the election process,” the ECI said in a letter on Wednesday to TMC president and Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

TMC leader and opposition head in the state assembly Partha Chatterjee refused to comment.

The ECI move comes a day after housing minister Gautam Deb gave documents to the state CEO’s office in support of his allegation on the TMC using unaccounted money in its campaign. “We sent the documents submitted by him to the Election Commission,” said Sarkar.

The TMC had filed a charge of defamation against Deb for his allegation.