State poll panel says it has final say on seized cash

MUMBAI: Days after the row over release of cash seized during electioneering, state election commissioner J S Saharia on Friday made it clear that cash would not be released without the commission’s nod.
A senior bureaucrat said it was found that either the district collectors or officials of the flying squad were using their discretion while releasing seized cash.
“We reviewed the entire situation and have given revised instructions for releasing the cash.Now, the state election commission will take a decision on whether to release the cash or not on the basis of the report of the SP and the income tax department,” he said.
On Friday, Rs 6 crore was seized from a vehicle belonging to the Baramati Cooperative Bank. “We have asked for papers from the person who was carrying the cash. It was all in the old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000,” the official said.
The bureaucrat said before Friday Rs 26 crore had been seized from the time the election process for the municipal councils and nagar panchayats began a month ago.
Senior BJP leader and cooperation minister Subhash Deshmukh too is locked in a controversy after Osmanabad election branch officials seized Rs 92 lakh from a vehicle belonging to the Lok Mangal group controlled by him. Deshmukh gave an explanation, but Osmanabad collector Prashant Narnaware said so far no clean chit had been given.
“We have received a report from the cooperation department and we are awaiting a report from the income tax department. As per the revised guidelines given by the state election commission, after we receive the report from the income tax department, we will submit it to the election commission, which will take a final decision,” Narnaware said.