‘EC flying squad’ stops release of book on Rafale aircraft deal, seizes copies

CHENNAI: An ‘election flying squad’ on Tuesday stopped the release of a book on the Rafale aircraft deal written by S Vijayan and seized hundreds of its copies from Chennai-based publishing house Bharathi Pusthakalayam. However, state chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo said neither the Election Commission of India nor his office had issued any instruction to stay the release of the 48-page book and seize its copies.

Sahoo said he had directed the district election officer to look into it.


The book, titled “Nattai Ulukkum Rafael; Bera Oozhal” (Rafael: laundering of the nation), was to be released on Tuesday.

Bharathi Pusthakalayam editor P K Rajan told TOI that an Election Commission flying squad entered his book stall in the morning and informed him that he “can’t conduct the release of the book as it is a political one.”

“They said I haven’t got a prior permission to release the book. It’s surprising as book releases are taking place every other day in the city. And I don’t know why they targeted us,” he said.

Rajan said he had simplified the original version of the book -- written by Vijayan and is available in public domain -- and made it simple for the lay readers. “I think it’s now reaching to many people and that’s the reason why they behaved like this,” he said.