A poll flying squad in Tamil Nadu seizes Rs 50,010 from a lady who is Rs 10 above the limit

In a peculiar instance of overreach, a poll squad in Coimbatore confiscated Rs 50,010 in cash from a lady, alleging that she had exceeded the permissible sum of Rs 50,000 by Rs 10, in violation of the model code of conduct.

Oddly enough, in order to arrive at the Rs 50,010 number, the team purportedly forced the lady to part with the Rs 10 she had in her cell phone case as spare cash. On Saturday morning, at around 11:00 a.m., Suriya Priya (34), who managed the finances of a micro industrial unit owned by her spouse Suresh Babu, was riding her two-wheeler from her residence in SIHS Colony to the facility.

She was caught by a flying squad team in Indira Garden, which is close to Singanallur. “I was transporting Rs 50,000 in Rs 500 denominations to provide our employees with a weekly salary.” I only brought the allowed amount, which is Rs 50,000, since I was aware of the limits imposed by the election regulations. I could prove it with documentation that money was taken out of a bank on March 16. I had stored the money at home so that I could use it on pay day. After providing all the justifications and supporting documentation, one of the FST team members requested Rs 20 from me. I said that I just had Rs 10 in my emergency cell phone cover. The police informed me that they would be taking the Rs 50,010 since its total value had exceeded Rs 50,000 when I handed them the Rs 10 note.

She was tortured even more when the staff obnoxiously urged her to come to the South Taluk office for more inquiries.

Torture for three hours

The flying squad officers released her and returned the money after almost three hours. Later, Suriya Priya complained about her trauma to the Election Commission of India and District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati.