Rs 95 lakh unaccounted cash seized in Guj ahead of LS polls

The Income Tax department has seized over Rs 95 lakh cash during its ongoing drive to curb the use of black money in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, officials said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Murali Krishna said, the I-T department seized Rs 1.40 crore from various parts of the state in the last one week.

"While Rs 44.61 lakh were returned to the owners upon the production of valid proof, Rs 95.43 lakh unaccounted cash was seized by the department," he said.

Giving further details about the seizure, Joint Director of Income Tax department's investigation wing, Pankaj Shrivastava, said that two lockers were also found in the last one week.

"Our teams are working in all the 33 districts to keep a watch on black money and illegal cash movements. In the last one week, we have recovered Rs 95.43 lakh in unaccounted cash. While around Rs 45 lakh in cash were seized from two angadia firm employees in Surat, Rs 50.43 lakh were recovered from a person in Ahmedabad," Shrivastava said during a joint press conference with the Gujarat CEO here.

As per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission, poll candidates or party leaders cannot carry cash above Rs 50,000, Krishna said.

"Any amount more than Rs 50,000 will be seized by the authorities. Further, a vehicle found carrying gifts worth over Rs 10,000 can also be seized if the authorities suspect that they are meant to lure voters. Star campaigners can keep Rs 1 lakh in cash for his personal use," he added.

To avoid the seizure of cash, party leaders or workers can keep a certificate issued by their party treasurer and having all details about how the cash will be spent, Krishna said.

As the model code of conduct is in force, election authorities have removed around 99,000 political banners, posters and other forms of publicity across the state till now.

Polling for all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on April 23.

The model code of conduct came into force when the poll schedule was announced on March 10.