CHENNAI: Now that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has kicked in across the state, people carrying more than Rs 50,000 in cash and purchasing goods worth more than Rs 10,000 become legitimate targets of election squads. They have already unleashed random checks on roads. Only valid documents, such as printed bills with a GST number in case of articles, and withdrawal slips or a transaction trail in case of cash, will help you leave with your valuables. This will be the new-normal for next five weeks. So what happens to the seized money? And, how to get it back?
If valid documents are not produced, seized cash up to Rs 10 lakh will be deposited with the state treasury (strong room of the respective team). Genuine owners can then approach the returning officer concerned with a copy of the seizure mahazar and proper documents to get back their valuables. If the value of the seizure is above 10 lakh, the income tax dept officials will be intimated, and they will take forward the inquiry. For this, a nodal officer has been deputed for each district.
“People carrying large sums of money for hospital treatment, buying jewellery, or shopping must produce valid bills, reports, or supporting documents,” said Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) commissioner J Kumaragurubaran. “If somebody feels they are harassed by the flying squads, they can reach out to the helpline 1800 425 7012,” he said. People are encouraged to record videos from their side. On Monday, GCC deployed 48 flying squads in three shifts, each spanning eight hours. It has a static surveillance team for vehicle checks and 32 video surveillance teams for recording violations. GCC said complaints to its helpline or the cVigil app will be rectified within 100 minutes.
GCC will up its vigil on social media on cash transactions, analysing video proof and tracking down violators. “We set up a 40-member online team to monitor social media complaints,” he said. The vigilance teams will submit seizure reports every night, with the highest seizure of Rs 1.29 lakh on Monday caught in the deputy chief minister’s Chepauk constituency, followed by Rs 1.16 lakh in Villivakkam.
“In Chennai, we have identified three sensitive constituencies — Egmore, Anna Nagar, and T Nagar. Night-time checks, too, will be beefed up here,” the commissioner said. Each flying squad will have an authorisation letter issued by the district election officer and returning officer, along with ID cards, which people can verify before handing over their money if it is seized. Customs sleuths at Chennai airport increased vigil over the smuggling of gold, narcotics, and foreign currency. “It is our routine job, but we received instructions to be extra vigilant,” said an official. Traders in the city, however, say the low cash transaction limits will affect their daily business. Vikrama Raja, president of Vanigar Sangangal Peramaippu, said they submitted a representation to chief electoral officer Archana Patnaik to ease the retrieval process of seized cash and articles. “We instructed traders and vendors to carry objects with proper bills to avoid seizures. To participate in the election process, we started printing the pledge ‘My vote not for sale’ on the bills issued in supermarkets and grocery stores,” he said.
