JOIN USInnovative methods, like transfer of funds through the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) banking system and concealment of currency wads inside car bonnets, were detected by the Election Commission (EC) as it took steps to curb the use of black money during the Lok Sabha polls, which concluded last month.
The poll panel’s election expenditure monitoring wing, under its Director General (Expenditure) P K Dash, seized total cash of Rs 313 crore and 2.25 crore litres of liquor along with other illegal inducements for bribing voters during the recently held parliamentary and Assembly polls.
“As a fear was created among miscreants, they were constantly changing methods. For example, since vehicles were being checked, it was noticed that some carried cash in the bonnet of the vehicle and, when it was recovered, the currency notes were burnt and the teams seized half-burnt notes,” said Dash.
“Similarly, Rs 8.31 crore in cash being carried on the roofs of buses in five bags was also seized. Cash was being transferred through the RTGS to accounts of voters. Several innovative methods were being adopted to avoid being caught by the checking teams,” he added.