NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh chief secretary on Tuesday informed the Election Commission that a preliminary enquiry had been registered by its economic offences wing (EOW) as per a direction given by the poll panel last month.
The poll panel had sought action against three IPS officers and one state police officer for their alleged role in unaccounted flow of cash during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The EC had asked for a case to be lodged with EOW against the officers - Sushovan Banerjee (IPS: 1989 batch), Sanjay Mane (IPS: 1989 batch); V Madhu Kumar (IPS: 1991 batch); and Arun Mishra (Madhya Pradesh police) - based on a report it had received from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
"Today, chief secretary and additional chief secretary (home), Madhya Pradesh apprised the Commission on the action initiated by Economic Offence Wing, Madhya Pradesh, in the direction issued by ECI in the matter concerning action on the report of CBDT on extensive use of unaccounted cash in the election process during Lok Sabha General Elections, 2019,” an EC officer told TOI.
The chief secretary informed that the agency has registered PE (Preliminary Enquiry) in the matter. He also sought two weeks time to apprise the commission of further action in the matter.
The EC had in a letter sent to the Madhya Pradesh chief electoral officer on December 16 sought action against the officers as per extant electoral and other relevant laws.
Last week, the general administration department forwarded the EC's directions along with the CBDT report to the director of economic offences wing, asking the CBDT findings against the officers, as compiled by the commission, to be examined and evaluated followed by initiation of action as per laid down procedure.