Tall claims hiding Vitamin M
By S R Gopal
For all the tall claims made about issues dominating the Tamil Nadu electoral scene, the fact is that Vitamin M (money and muscle power) played a crucial role in electioneering and is the key factor behind the electoral outcome.
The Election Commission, despite unprecedented vigilance, has registered 1,700 cases of attempts at bribery and also seized over Rs 45 crore in cash during raids in the run up to the elections on April 13. Around Rs 5.13 crore has been returned to the owners, after they furnished proof of genuine business transactions or that they were carrying cash for payment to hospitals for medical treatment.
Of the balance Rs 38 crore, there would be two types of investigation: First, by the Income-Tax department where the onus would be on the owners to prove that they could account for the cash in accordance with normal, legal formats available to them.
However, they would at best be allowed to file returns declaring the seized amount as part of their legitimate income and would have to pay IT for the same. Cases of bribery under section 171B would be handled as per due process of law in the courts.
The second bunch of cases would relate to seizure of cash lying abandoned in vehicles or on the road, apparently because the owners did not want to be caught with the money during the raids. In such cases, where there would be no claimant, the money would go to the National Treasury.
There is little doubt that the treasury would gain over Rs 10 crore from the seizures.
Image: A woman left, displays her voter identity card as she waits in a queue with others outside a polling station to cast her vote for assembly elections in Chennai on April 13, 2011.
Image copyright: AP/PTI. Any unauthorized reproduction is prohibited
By S R Gopal
For all the tall claims made about issues dominating the Tamil Nadu electoral scene, the fact is that Vitamin M (money and muscle power) played a crucial role in electioneering and is the key factor behind the electoral outcome.
The Election Commission, despite unprecedented vigilance, has registered 1,700 cases of attempts at bribery and also seized over Rs 45 crore in cash during raids in the run up to the elections on April 13. Around Rs 5.13 crore has been returned to the owners, after they furnished proof of genuine business transactions or that they were carrying cash for payment to hospitals for medical treatment.
Of the balance Rs 38 crore, there would be two types of investigation: First, by the Income-Tax department where the onus would be on the owners to prove that they could account for the cash in accordance with normal, legal formats available to them.
However, they would at best be allowed to file returns declaring the seized amount as part of their legitimate income and would have to pay IT for the same. Cases of bribery under section 171B would be handled as per due process of law in the courts.
The second bunch of cases would relate to seizure of cash lying abandoned in vehicles or on the road, apparently because the owners did not want to be caught with the money during the raids. In such cases, where there would be no claimant, the money would go to the National Treasury.
There is little doubt that the treasury would gain over Rs 10 crore from the seizures.
Image: A woman left, displays her voter identity card as she waits in a queue with others outside a polling station to cast her vote for assembly elections in Chennai on April 13, 2011.
Image copyright: AP/PTI. Any unauthorized reproduction is prohibited
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