Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar on Wednesday said the politicians could possess a maximum of `50,000 as long as the model code of conduct is in force while the general public including traders can take any amount provided if they have proof for the same.
“If politicians possess more than `50,000, it would be deemed as meant for bribe”, the CEO said addressing a press conference at the Secretariat here.
Tightening the screws for curbing the use of money power in the elections, the CEO said the EC had already asked the banking authorities to inform the district Collectors about large transaction of money. Any large scale purchase — like mixies and grinders would also be monitored.
On reports that the seizure of money has been affecting the traders, the CEO said: “We have made an appeal through the media that huge amount of cash should be carried only with proof, as political parties may take money for bribing in the disguise of ‘traders’.
In this connection, he pointed out that in a district, the flying squad had seized `24 lakh cash but within an hour, `21 lakh was released following production of proof for that money.
“If the transaction is above `1 lakh, it would be tracked. SHGs have to submit their accounts to the Collectors everyday. For expenditure monitoring, 32 companies of CRPF and other State police personnel are coming to Tamil Nadu between March 20 and 23”, the CEO said and added that three lakh State government officials would be deployed for election works this time.
Till March 11, the squads had seized `2.16 crore in cash, 2,500 mixies, silver ornaments weighing 61 kg, 73 silk sarees and seven kg of gold in Nagapattinam district, the CEO said.