Day before voting, election authorities in Puducherry seize Rs 3.68 cr

Election authorities in Puducherry confiscated Rs 5,48,38,860 in cash from four separate residences before to the voting day, which took place on April 16–18. Of the total, Rs 3,68,78,500 was taken on Thursday from a home in Kadirkamam’s Jhansi Nagar.

Returning Officer A Kulothungan said that on Thursday, a total of Rs 4,09,25,000 was confiscated, comprising Rs 40.465 lakh from a residence in the Nellithope constituency and Rs 4,09,25,000 from Jhansi Nagar. On Wednesday, two properties in Kadirkamam were taken for Rs 1,39,13,860. Kulothungan said that complaints made to the district control room were the reason for the searches.

Cash confiscation was overseen by assistant returning officers S Yeshwanthiah and S Sandirakumaran. Furthermore, he said, the Income Tax Department was swiftly alerted and handed custody of the seized funds since the seizures totaled more than Rs 10 lakh.

A report from the official source further revealed that freebies worth Rs 5,78,179, booze priced at Rs 44,17,120, and narcotics worth Rs 8,07,234 had also been recovered.

In another event, the returning officer said that four people who were reportedly engaged in giving cash to voters were apprehended during a series of searches on Thursday. Cases have been filed, and further investigation is ongoing.

It should be mentioned that the Puducherry AIADMK has demanded that the union territory’s LS votes be canceled, citing BJP and Congress complicity in voting manipulation via cash distribution. On Wednesday, party candidate G Tamizhvendhan and state secretary A Anbazhagan held a dharna in front of the RO’s office. A few days ago, they also submitted a petition to the ECI about the same thing.