The Election Commission has postponed the polling in the Aravakurichi Assembly Constituency in Tamil Nadu on from May16 to 23 in the wake of the distribution of money and gift items to the electors of the constituency.
The EC observed that the vitiating effect of the money power created by the distribution of money and gift items to the electors of the constituency loses its intensity and a more congenial atmosphere conducive to the conduct of free and fair election is created.
The Commission directed, "The poll in the constituency shall now be taken on 23rd May, 2016 (Monday), instead of 16th May, 2016, and the counting of votes shall take place at 08.00 a.m. on 25th May, 2016 (Wednesday), instead of 19th May, 2016, as scheduled earlier."
"From the very early stages of the notification of the election, the Commission started receiving complaints in large numbers with regard to the distribution of money and other gifts in the form of consumable items, etc., to the electors of the said 134-Aravakurichi Assembly Constituency by the candidates and political parties in the election fray," said the EC in a press release issued here.
"As a counter move to check these illegal activities of the candidates and political parties, the Commission took several proactive steps to curb these activities. By way of illustration, three Static Surveillance Teams, six Flying Squad Teams and two Video Surveillance Teams, headed by senior officers, were deployed in the constituency to keep a constant vigil on the above mentioned unlawful activities. In addition, a senior officer belonging to Indian Revenue Service was appointed as Expenditure Observer by the Commission under section 20B of the said Act, who was assisted by an Assistant Expenditure Observer in the constituency," it added.
"On 22nd April, 2016, the Income Tax Department conducted a search in the residence of one Shri Ambunathan, S/o Shri Periyasami in Aravakurichi. During that search, an amount of Rs.4.77 crores was seized by the Income Tax authorities along with some other incriminating documents which revealed a number of notings showing proximity to some prominent Ministers of the Tamil Nadu Government and belonging to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
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"In addition, 200 saris and dhotis were also seized and there were notings to show that these saries and dhotis have been purchased for Rs.1.30 crore. Further, a number of currency counting machines were also seized along with some un-registered ambulance vehicles, which were suspected to be used for transporting the money.
"A case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. The aforesaid seizure of money and gift items gave rise to a petition from the opposition parties demanding a CBI enquiry in the matter," said the EC.
"On 10th May, 2016, the Income Tax Department conducted another search in the residence of Shri K.C. Palanisamy, the candidate of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the 134-Aravakurichi Assembly Constituency, and his son Shri K.C.P. Sivaraman in Chennai and Karur. The total cash seized in the above search amounted to Rs.1.98 crore, out of which Rs.95 lakh was seized from the house of the candidate Shri K.C. Palanisamy. The IT Department has videoed both the above mentioned searches and seizers," said the EC.
"Further, seven FIRs have been registered in 134-Aravakurichi Assembly Constituency. In one of these FIRs, registered under section 171B of the Indian Penal Code, the complaint was that a person was distributing money to some people in the constituency and when the officials reached the spot, the person distributing the money fled from the scene abandoning Rs.68,000/-. Furthermore, 429 litres of liquor has been seized in the constituency and 33 complaints of money distribution have been registered in the Grievance Redress Portal on Money Distribution of the constituency set up by the election authorities," it added.
"To save the elections from the pernicious effect of money power so as to maintain the sanctity of elections envisaged under the Constitution and upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, it becomes imperative on the part of the Commission to ensure that the above principles and the sacrosanctity of the electoral process must be maintained and preserved by the Commission," it said.