In a letter dated April 8 to the Chief Secretary, ECI Secretary R K Srivastava said the Commission had received information about the release of grants even in the districts, where byelections were held on Saturday, though the model code of conduct was in force from March 12.
Official sources said an explanation was sent to the ECI on Saturday. It is a fact that money was sanctioned for about seven temples in three constituencies where bypolls were held, after the model code of conduct came into force. A notification sanctioning Rs 110 crore for improvement of temples and religious places was issued in February.
The money had to be utilised before the end of the financial year, as it came under the budget proposals. About 95 per cent of the Rs 110 crore was sanctioned much before the elections. Only some temples were sanctioned money after the elections were declared, the sources said.
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