Unaccounted cash flooding polls in AP

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh has set a dubious record in the seizure of unaccounted cash, jewellery and other valuables meant for luring voters ahead of the elections.

The Election Commission authorities have so far seized valuables worth over `100 crore, including unaccounted cash amounting to `77.42 crore, as part of its efforts to check illegal flow of money in the run-up to the simultaneous elections to the Assembly and Lok Sabha.

In fact, AP tops the list of the States with highest cash recoveries made by the poll panel with the help of Income-Tax authorities and the State police. The cash seizure in the State accounts for over 60 per cent of the nationwide haul so far.

Surprisingly, this huge amount of cash has been seized in less than a month's time and before the issuance of notification for the first phase polling in the State.

The Model Code of Conduct came into effect on March 5. The seized cash, mostly from vehicles, may well be a tip of iceberg. It is common knowledge that the major contenders for power spend huge money to buy votes, apart from ensuring free flow of liquor and other gifts.

Interestingly, the cash seized so far is double the amount seized during the 2009 general elections in the State. The authorities have also seized 69.50 kg gold worth `20 crore and 287.75 kg silver worth `17 crore during the enforcement drive.

The twin Commissionerate limits of Hyderabad and Cyberabad topped the seizure list with `16.26 crore unaccounted cash, followed by Nellore district where nearly `10. 53 crore unaccounted cash has been seized.

The two-and-a half-month long enforcement drive during the last general elections resulted in a seizure of `38.14 crore unaccounted cash. The steep rise in the amount of seized properties even before the polling notification has left several people puzzled.

Expressing serious concern over the pernicious influence of money power in the polls, a former Minister and senior TDP leader from Rayalaseema said these mind-boggling numbers reflected the magnitude of undisclosed cash and valuables that could alter the democratic process in the State.

He alleged that police personnel were only showing a tiny part of the actual amount as the seized property by accepting various types of inducements from people carrying cash and other valuables.

Reacting to the issue, Election Commission authorities said that the properties seized during the regular enforcement of code of conduct including cash seizure could not be taken seriously as most of the valuable properties would be returned to the claimants after production of valid and genuine documents.

"On the face of it, the value of seized property appears very high. But we cannot assume that the entire lot of seized property is tainted and illegal. Most of the seized properties are returned to the claimants by the authorities concerned on production of genuine and valid documents," an EC official said.

However, the real picture belies the claims of EC officials. It is evident from the fact that not even a single person has come forward to claim the seized property during the 2009 general elections.

As per EC rules, seized cash above Rs 50, 000 and below `10 lakh could be claimed by showing valid documents. The entire amount seized during the last elections is either deposited with state treasury department or handed over to the Income Tax department, if the seized amount exceeds `10 lakh.

Election Commission authorities said that strict instructions have been issued to all district collectors, who are also the returning officers, to increase surveillance on unaccounted cash flows meant to fund parties and candidates' election campaigns.