DEO staff seize money being distributed to voters

Pondicherry, May 5 (UNI) Revenue and police authorities have seized Rs 1.5 lakh allegedly meant for distribution to voters last night and arrested one person in this connection.

District Election Officer Theva Neethi Das told reporters here today that around 2315 hrs last night the election control room got information that money was being given to voters at Thondamannatham village in Ossudu Assembly constituency in a Qualis car.

The authorities reached the village and traced the car at around 2350 hrs and seized the money. The occupant, Mohan alias Arumugham, a supporter of the Ossudu DMK candidate Mathivanan, was arrested.

Mr Das said the car was permitted in Mathivanan's name and so, police were directed to register a case and arrest him. Cases under Section 171(E) of IPC and 123(1)(A) of the Representation of Peoples Act were registered against him. He was yet to be arrested.

Answering a question, he said such provision of money was a corrupt practice under Section 123 of the Act and even if the candidate won the election, it could be challenged in the court of law and he could be disqualified. This was the second instance of cases being registered against candidates. Earlier, a case was registered against the BJP Lawspet candidate Kalyanasundaram after the seziure of liquor bottles from the house of one of his relatives.

Asked about the unrest at Ozhukarai constituency following trouble between the AIADMK and Congress candidate, Mr Das said the returning officer had a detailed dicussion with them in the presence of senior police officals and both promised to cooperate to conduct a peaceful poll. Despite this, yesterday, there was an attack on the AIADMK candidate's son. Police were told to take stringent action against the guilty and cases were resgistered against those who attacked and those who put up the road blockade, he said.

UNI PAB SK GC1325