Dharapuram byelection: ₹48 L seized in surprise raids

A surveillance team conducted an inspection at Mulanur, and seized ₹40,79,150 lakh in cash from the residence of Viswanathan in the Thalakkarai area and ₹7,63,400 from the residence of Selvaraj, also from the same locality.
A total of ₹48,42,550 was not accounted for and would be handed over to the district treasury, official sources said.
Officials are investigating if the money is meant to be distributed to voters by political parties.
The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) of Dharapuram, Felix Raja, in his capacity as Returning Officer for the Dharapuram (R) Assembly constituency, convened a meeting with owners of marriage halls at the Taluk Office and instructed them not to permit conduct of political events, as per guidelines of Election Commission of India.
Information about political parties or candidates attempting to book marriage halls, while the Election Code of Conduct is in place, must necessarily be conveyed to the officials immediately, the RDO said.