Election Commission Seizes Rs 22.90 Lakh in Pune Ahead of Maharashtra Polls
In Pune, Maharashtra, just weeks before the assembly elections, the Election Commission’s team confiscated Rs 22.90 lakh from a trader. The Static Surveillance Team (SST) seized the cash in Hadapsar on October 22, leading to an Income Tax investigation. The trader, Baktumal Sukheja from Daund Tahseel, claimed he was on his way to deposit the money at a bank when stopped by the team during a routine check.
The cash was seized at Manjaru Phata on Solapur Road, and the Income Tax department was informed for further investigation. This incident follows another significant cash seizure of Rs 5 crore by Pune Rural Police at Khed Shivapur toll during a similar operation.
The opposition party, Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA), raised concerns about election transparency. Aaditya Thackeray, a prominent MVA leader, expressed doubts about the impartiality of the Election Commission, suggesting that if the ruling party is involved, the truth may remain hidden.
The Maharashtra assembly elections are set for November 20, with results to be announced on November 23. In the previous elections, the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Congress secured varying numbers of seats, with BJP leading in both 2019 and 2014.
Doubts Revealed
Election Commission -: The Election Commission is a government body in India responsible for overseeing and conducting elections to ensure they are fair and free. They make sure that the rules are followed during elections.
Rs 22.90 Lakh -: Rs 22.90 Lakh is a way to express money in India. One lakh is equal to 100,000, so Rs 22.90 lakh means 2,290,000 rupees.
Pune -: Pune is a large city in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is known for its educational institutions and cultural heritage.
Maharashtra Polls -: Maharashtra Polls refer to the elections held in the state of Maharashtra to choose leaders for the state government. These elections happen every five years.
Static Surveillance Team -: The Static Surveillance Team is a group set up by the Election Commission to monitor and check for illegal activities like unaccounted money during elections. They help ensure fair elections.
Income Tax investigation -: An Income Tax investigation is when the government checks if someone is paying the right amount of taxes. In this case, they are checking if the seized money was declared for taxes.
MVA -: MVA stands for Maha Vikas Aghadi, which is a political alliance in Maharashtra. It includes parties like the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Indian National Congress.
Election transparency -: Election transparency means that the election process is open and clear, so everyone can see that it is fair and honest. It helps people trust the results.