NEW DELHI: With just weeks remaining until the Maharashtra assembly elections, a team from the Election Commission confiscated Rs 22.90 lakh from a trader in Pune.
The cash was seized by the Static Surveillance Team (SST) in the Hadapsar area on October 22, prompting authorities to alert the Income Tax department for further investigation.
According to a Pune police official, the SST intercepted Baktumal Sukheja, a resident of Daund Tahseel in Pune district, during a nakabandi operation.Sukheja claimed he was en route to deposit the funds at a bank in the APMC market yard when the Election Commission's team stopped him.
The seizure took place at Manjaru Phata on Solapur Road, and the authorities have notified the Income Tax department for further inquiries.
This incident follows a seizure by Pune Rural Police, who confiscated Rs 5 crore from a car during a nakabandi at the Khed Shivapur toll on the evening of October 22.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) expressed concerns regarding transparency in the electoral process. Aaditya Thackeray stated, "It is clear that if it is someone from the ruling party, then no one will ever know. We have already said that if the Election Commission is neutral, then it will be known; if it is not, then everyone will start making the same conjectures you made."
The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the previous elections in 2019, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress won 44. In 2014, the BJP had a stronger showing with 122 seats, while Shiv Sena won 63 and Congress 42.