Election Officials seize unaccounted cash bound for distribution
On Saturday night (March 6, 2024), a Flying Squad Team (FST) of the Election Commission seized ₹3.99 crores in unaccounted currency from three suspects headed into election-bound Tirunelveli aboard Nellai Express.
According to official police reports, the main accused in the case, who was unable to account for the money, subsequently gave a statement to the Election Commissions Flying Squad Team (FST) claiming the money was meant for distribution among voters in the Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency where BJP candidate Nainar Nagendran was contesting.
This marks the single largest seizure of unaccounted money in Tamil Nadu, after Election Commissions Model Code of Conduct came into place, a senior GRP official stated. Further adding that the information was received from an anonymous tip-off about three people who had boarded Nellai Express from Egmore, carrying eight bags of unaccounted cash “meant for a candidate of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contesting in Tirunelveli”.
Nearly ₹3.99 Crores seized by Election Officials
Following the information, the members of the Flying Squad Team reached the Tambaram Railway Station at around 9 pm, and inspected the AC two-tier coach with the help of Tambaram GRP and Police officials. Upon checking the bags of passengers S. Satish (33), his brother S. Naveen (31) & their driver S. Perumal (26), they were found to be carrying numerous bundles of ₹500 cash, amounting to ₹3.99 crores. Despite repeated inquisition about the money’s source and destination, the trio had no answers.
The accused were then deboarded from the train and taken to Tambaram police station, where election officials interrogated them for hours on the money’s source and destination. The FST officials also alerted the Assistant Returning Officer of Tambaram and handed over the seized cash (₹3,98,91,500) to the Tambaram Tahsildar.
During investigation, Satish confessed to the election officials that he worked as a manager in Hotel Blue Diamond located on Poonamallee High Road, owned by BJP candidate Nainar Nagendran, who is contesting from BJP in Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency. He further added that the money seized from his possession was meant for distribution to voters in Tirunelveli constituency, and was given to him by an individual named Jaishankar. He was found to be carrying a BJP identity card thereby associating him with the BJP party.
While another accused S. Perumal received his bags of money from someone named Asaithambi of Triplicane with the intent of distribution among by voters. He was also found to be in possession of a copy of Mr. Nagendran’s proof of identity.
The search for the two additional suspects is currently underway and the Tambaram Police Department processed the arrested suspects under Section 171 (C) (Undue influence at elections), 171(E) (Punishment for bribery), 171(F) (Punishment for undue influence in election and personation at an election) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Indian Penal Code.
After recording their statements, the accused were produced in front a Judicial Magistrate and were subsequently released in bail.
DMK appeals to Chief Electoral Officer to suspend Nagendran’s candidature
The states ruling party, the DMK approached the Chief Electoral Officer, Satyabrata Sahoo seeking immediate action against BJP candidate Nainar Nagendran. The Election Commission of India had previously warned that if any candidate is found to be distributing money for undue influence among voters in addition to a criminal conspiracy, the candidate will be disqualified.
The office of the CEO quoted the District Election office, Chengalpattu stating, “It has been sent to Income Tax Department for further investigation. The department will investigate the seized amount of more than Rs 10 lakh during election time. Accordingly, all the information related to the seizure has been sent to it. Following this, the Income Tax Department will conduct a detailed investigation into the matter”.
DMK Organisation Secretary RS Bharathi said to Tamil Nadu CEO Satyabrata Sahoo, “we suspect that Mr. Nainar Nagendran stored several crores of money in secret places to distribute to voters”.
Nainar Nagendran has however, refused any connection with the cash seized by Election Commissions FST in Chennai, and stated that he was being purposely targeted due to BJP’s higher winning probability in Tirunelveli constituency.
