Election Commission authorities today stopped three trucks with Rs 570 crore cash in poll-bound Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district.
Though the trucks have not been opened yet, the drivers claim that the cash belonged to State Bank of India and is being transported to Vijayawada.
The Election Commission has formed an investigating committee to look into the matter. “Vehicles have not been seized and the containers haven’t been opened. They are likely to be released soon if documents are in order,” said Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni.
Officials said that the vehicle numbers did not match the documents, aroused suspicion.
The Election Commission has so far recovered over Rs 100 crore unaccounted cash in Tamil Nadu since poll notification in March.
Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on May 16.
Keeping in view the abuse of money power in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission had last month also issued some special instructions to be followed by observers and members of the surveillance teams deployed in the state.
The Commission had sought “stepped-up vigil” across Tamil Nadu to detect and intercept cash and other inducements being used to lure voters and ensure that a level-playing field is maintained.
