The Standing Observation Team and the Flying Squad members need to act swiftly for conducting searches if they receive any tip-off regarding cash or any other material being carried in vehicles of candidates and VIPs to lure voters.
The officers of the flying squad were, however, told at a meeting held at the District Collectorate here on Tuesday that it had been mentioned in the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India that during the election, the suspicious vehicles should be inspected in such a way that general public is not harassed. Based on the experience of last assembly polls and the directives of the High Court, the Election Commission has issued many a new directive.
As per the directives, during inspection, if any non-political person, who is found carrying more than Rs 50,000 without any campaign material and if there is no complaint or suspicion against him, the amount should not be seized.
The EC has directed that if there is information that cash is being kept in any house or office, with an intention to distribute it among the electorate during the election, and as per rule, it is not possible to enter the building, in such issues, the flying squad and the standing observation team will keep vigil on a regular basis at the entrance and exit of the house or office. The inspection team will check those persons coming in and going out in the premises.
Similarly, the standing observation team, if during inspection finds any person carrying more than Rs 10 lakh, will inform the Income Tax officers, who would take action as per the income tax rules. As per the directives of the Commission, if any person is found carrying Rs 50,000 or less, even along with election campaign material, it should not be seized.
The Commission, while giving information about the instructions of the Supreme Court, said that if the inspection team has any suspicion or received any complaint in this regard, that along with the campaign material cash amount is to be distributed among the electorate, the amount should be seized and action be taken against the person concerned, under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.