Now cash being distributed in police jeeps in TN!

Chennai, Mar 30: With rampant reports of poll code violation and massive irregularities that have emerged from Tamil Nadu, the state has become the hot bed of political gimmickry with the DMK and the AIADMK vying to grab voters interest.

According to the latest report submitted by the Election Commission (EC) before the Madras High Court, states that cash was being distributed in Tamil Nadu in police jeeps. With flaring emotions on who will rein supreme in the power struggles, the public is having a field day with the freebies being doled out to them that include laptops, grinders, mineral water and the likes.

The issue regarding the cash distribution was presented before a bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam. The senior counsel for the EC, G Rajagopalan has been quoted as saying, "The information received from Departments of Central Government is very shocking. Even money is being distributed in police jeeps."

The counsel also added, "We have listed where the money was drawn and taken and in which house it was kept. We have seized 1/10th of the material of what we got information. Whatever information we have received up to March 27, we are submitting in the report. We have not mentioned the names of the officials (who collected details) as they should not be targeted."

"The money distribution (to voters) was done with meticulous planning. We are not able to deal with (a case of) such magnitude and are trying to deal with it. So far 2900 cases have been registered. We are going to take action against the police officers who distributed money. These cannot be anonymous information. Some names (of police officials) are really shocking," Rajagopalan added.

The counsel gave its comments following a set of writ petitions filed by Tamil Nadu Minister K P P Samy and others. The bench looking into the matter reserved its order. Samy had earlier filed a petition with the EC for the damages caused by the "unfounded and unauthorised search" at his house. He had sought Rupees five crore in damages with the EC and its officials over the "loss of reputation".

The court later directed the EC that they would not conduct any searches without the concerned authority arriving at the "subjective satisfaction regarding the nature and source of information."