Cash, liquor worth over Rs. 1.24 crore seized in Mysuru

Mysuru: Even as political parties are indulging in hectic parleys to zero-in on candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections and even before prominent candidates filing their nomination papers, authorities responsible for conducting free and  fair elections have tightened the grip on unaccounted cash, liquor and freebies.

Election Expenditure Monitoring has been intensified with Static Surveillance Teams and Flying Squads keeping a close watch on check-posts across Mysuru district for violations of Model Code of Conduct. Also, with the election expenditure limit being Rs.70 lakh per candidate, all potentials are being watched for their election spend.

Over 30 Flying Squads have been deployed across the district with over 31 Static Surveillance Teams for enforcing the poll code which came into effect from Mar. 10, soon after the poll dates were announced. Video Surveillance Teams (VSTs) have been deployed to monitor election-related activities and 33 of them have been deployed in Mysuru. 13 Excise Teams have also been deployed.

In a communication to the media this morning, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhiram G. Sankar, who is also the District Election Officer and Returning Officer said that as on 6 am today, total cash seized was Rs. 6,79,300, 20,242.67 litres of liquor worth Rs. 1,07,40,380 have been seized along with 31 vehicles (3 cars, 26 two-wheelers and 2 three-wheelers) worth Rs. 16.1 lakh.

The DC said 223 FIRs had been lodged for violation of Excise Laws and 17 FIRs in connection with Police cases. One FIR with regard to election expenditure case.

Gavadagere cash seizure: Cracking down on illegal transportation of cash, election staff deployed at a check-post in Gavadagere near Hunsur has seized unaccounted cash of Rs. 3.54 lakh yesterday. During a routine inspection of vehicles passing through the check-post, the Officers came across the cash without valid documents and records. It was immediately confiscated. Further investigation has been taken up by respective authorities.

Police propose externment of 31 people

The Mysuru District Police have recommended the externment of persons involved in various crimes in the past. As many as 31 people had been recommended for externment in Mysuru district as a measure ahead of the elections.

These persons had been involved in various cases in the district and the proposal for their externment had been submitted to the DC who is also the Returning Officer, a press release from the Superintendent of Police, Mysuru, said.

The Deputy Commissioner subsequently issued notices to these persons and summoned them to appear before him for a hearing here on Mar. 18. The next hearing has been fixed for Mar. 30.

The city Police are keeping a close watch over notorious rowdy-sheeters and those named under the Goonda Act, besides initiating preventive action against them. The Police officials will also keep a watch over those named in election-related cases filed during the last Assembly polls.