By IANS,
Chandigarh : After recovering over Rs.50 million of unaccounted money from Punjab, the Election Commission Friday enhanced the limit of carrying cash from Rs.100,000 to Rs.250,000 till the election model code of conduct was in force for the state’s Jan 30 assembly polls.
This follows complaints from traders and other categories, including political parties, that the strict checking of vehicles and people being done these days by various enforcement agencies was causing harassment to the public.
Punjab’s Special Chief Electoral Officer Usha Sharma said that even with the enhanced exemption to carry cash, the people carrying it will have to show relevant documents disclosing the source and use of money.
“The intentions of the election commission are clear that black money should not be used during the assembly elections in the state. Relevant documents disclosing the source and use of the money being carried will have to be shown,” she said.
The money has been recovered in recent days during checking in the run up to the Jan 30 Punjab assembly elections. The recent seizures were made from Mohali, Ludhiana, Patiala, Khanna, Jagraon, Barnala, Rajpura and Hoshiarpur.