GUWAHATI: Elections in India are always gala affairs. Rallies, campaigns, processions that also include cash and liquor. Yes! Cash and alcohol have always been the dark tools used by people and different parties to influence voters in the country. The Election Commission of India has been keeping a check on all these activities and officers of the election commission have been seizing cash and alcohol from various check-points to ensure free and fair elections without any influence.
But, ever wondered what happens to all the cash and liquor seized by the flying squad of the election commission? Well, for that, we spoke to the Chief Election Commissioner of Assam, Mukesh Sahu, who explained the process to us.
Talking to G Plus, Mukesh Sahu informed that the cash which was seized during the checkings carried out by the election officers are first examined to check whether the person who is carrying the amount has proper documents or not. If the documents are found to be in order, then the cash is returned to the owner and if no proper documents are found, then a case is registered by the EC under various sections of the IPC and the matter is forwarded to court for further proceeding.
“Fake currency which is seized is handed over to the concerned department and then later on, destroyed. If black money is found, then it is handed over to the Income Tax department and cases are registered against the people involved,” informed Sahu.
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He further informed that illicit liquor seized by officers of the flying squad is handed over to the Excise Department, who later on destroy it.
Till now (April 8), the election commission has seized cash worth Rs. 9,32,25,101 and liquor around 1,42,975.17 litres (worth Rs. 1,31,08,5,39).