Pune: Election Commission’s Directive Leads to Rs 1.20 Crore Cash Seizure in Maval Over 6 Weeks
Varad Bhatkhande
Maval, 3rd May 2024: Against the backdrop of the Lok Sabha Elections, various flying squads and static surveillance squads of the Election Commission of India (ECI) are deployed to enforce the model code of conduct. In one recent instance, the static surveillance squad conducted an investigation and discovered Rs 29 lakh 50 thousand in cash inside a car. This cash has been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Maval Division, for further investigation.
The static surveillance squads and flying squads of the ECI provide daily reports to the Pune District Election Officer and District Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase, as well as the Election Returning Officer for Maval Lok Sabha Constituency, Deepak Singla. Static surveillance squads have been stationed at Nigdi and Dapodi. The squad stationed in Nigdi recovered the Rs 29,50,000 cash near Bhakti Shakti Chowk.
When investigated further, it was discovered that this cash belonged to Ravindra Wani. Filming of the action and preparation of the confiscation panchnama has been completed, and the concerned individual has been granted access to the seized amount. The seized amount and related documents have been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Maval Division. This action has been documented in the Commission’s order. A detailed report has been submitted to the Election Returning Officer of Maval Constituency for further appropriate action, and further investigation is underway.
Pimpri-Chinchwad police seized Rs 50 lakh cash in a car on the Urse toll road during a blockade on March 26th. A sum of Rs.13 lakh and 90 thousand was discovered in a luxury car near the MIDC Bhosari Police Station. On 23rd April, a joint team of the ECI and Pimpri-Chinchwad Police confiscated cash amounting to 27 lakhs during a blockade under the Wakad-Hinjawadi bridge. Following operations in Nigdi, various teams have thus far seized cash totalling Rs 1 crore 20 lakh 40 thousand in the Pimpri-Chinchwad city area over the past month and a half.
