RK Nagar bypoll may be countermanded after cash for vote findings: Report

I-T search operations in Tamil Nadu have unearthed distribution of Rs 89 cr to voters

The RK Nagar by-election in Tamil Nadu may be countermanded in the wake of the disclosures made about cash being distributed to voters after multiple income tax department raids, reported the Times of India on Sunday. 

According to the report, the Central Board of Direct Taxes submitted its report on the I-T raids in the state, at properties belonging to state health minister C Vijayabaskar and his associates, to the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday. 

The I-T search operation held at the premises of an associate of Vijayabaskar has revealed the routing of Rs 89 crore for "distribution to voters" in R K Nagar Assembly constituency which goes to by-poll on April 12.

Quoting a former chief electoral officer, the national daily said that an election in a constituency could be countermanded only if there was more than one political party involved in corrupt activities. However, according to the report, the former official added that the "latest happenings in Tamil Nadu show that the EC may think twice before holding the by-election". 

The report added that the Tamil Nadu's chief electoral officer's report to the EC would be studied in detail before any course of action is decided. "We will go by our CEO's report detailing the extent of cash seizures and money trail detected during I-T raids... We expect the report to be in as soon as possible," an EC official said, according to the national daily. 

Cash for vote plans unearthed

A whopping Rs 100 crore must have been distributed to voters indicated cash and documents seized by the Income Tax officials during raids at various places, including residence and business premises of Vijayabaskar, a senior I-T official said on Friday.

According to sources, documents seized during searches at the premises of an accountant of the minister showed details of Rs 89 crore and the money being channelled to R K Nagar through party functionaries.

"We have seized cash totalling Rs 5.5 crore. We have also seized documents showing around Rs 89 crore changed hands for distribution to voters of R K Nagar," the I-T official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

"A cash disbursal of Rs 100 crore to bribe voters will be a very conservative estimate," he added.