By IANS,
Chennai : The Election Commission of India Monday told the Madras High Court that it has powers to search vehicles and residences and seize unaccounted cash to prevent its misuse to buy voters or influence them during an election.
The EC’s contention came as it sought a stay on last week’s court order stopping the poll panel from searching and seizing unaccounted cash carried in vehicles. The court had ordered the panel to carry out searches only if it has credible information about the cash being carried for distribution among voters.
The interim court order came on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking that the court ban the poll panel from conducting arbitrary searches and seizures.
The EC contended that it was not able to take action on reports of cash distribution for voters. It also submitted that various political parties in meetings with the commission had complained of money being distributed among voters to influence their choices.
According to the panel, the vehicle searches have resulted in seizure of cash running into millions of rupees and also 9,000 detonators carried without any proper documents. It has also seized 3,623 litres of liquor.