Rs 23 Crore seized within two days: Chief Electoral Officer

Cash and goods worth Rs 23.28 crore have been seized across Tamil Nadu within two days of the announcement of Assembly elections, Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said.
Following the announcement of poll dates on March 15, the Model Code of Conduct came into force, leading to intensified surveillance across the State. Flying squads and monitoring teams have been deployed in all 234 Assembly constituencies.
Addressing reporters, Archana Patnaik said expenditure of candidates is being closely monitored and recorded, with a maximum spending limit of Rs 40 lakh per candidate.
She said 2,160 flying squads and an equal number of static surveillance teams have been deployed across the State, with nine teams each per constituency. In addition, 25 inter-departmental monitoring teams comprising officials from the Income Tax, Enforcement and Customs departments have been engaged.
As of March 17 morning, seizures worth Rs 23.28 crore, including cash and gift items without proper documentation, have been made and are under investigation.
To facilitate public complaints, District Election Control Rooms have been set up across Tamil Nadu. So far, 1.68 lakh wall advertisements have been removed and 61 cases registered for violations.
She clarified that statues of deceased leaders need not be covered under the code, but photographs of living political leaders displayed in government offices must be covered.
Patnaik added that cash carried with valid documents and proper explanation will not be seized and will be returned after verification. Complaints regarding seizures can be taken up with District Grievance Redressal Committees.
On specific complaints, she said the issue regarding the transfer of the Kallakurichi District Collector was not election-related, while a complaint about seizure of money meant for medical expenses in Palladam would be examined.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has appointed 1,111 central observers for poll-bound states and Union Territories. Of these, 327 observers have been deployed in Tamil Nadu, including 136 general observers, 40 police observers and 151 expenditure observers.
Observers have been instructed to reach their respective constituencies by March 18 and make their contact details public. They have also been directed to set aside time daily to hear grievances from candidates, political parties and the public.