Cash Distribution Attempt Foiled During Nashik Local Body Polls
In a significant incident during the Nagar Panchayat elections in Maharashtra's Dhule district, the Sindkheda police have initiated legal action against an unknown individual for allegedly attempting to distribute money to voters. The event unfolded on Tuesday afternoon, leading to the seizure of a substantial sum of cash by election authorities.
The Chase and Seizure by Flying Squad
The sequence of events began around 12 pm on Tuesday. Officials from the flying squad in Sindkheda received a critical tip-off. The information indicated that a person was actively handing out money in a lane situated close to the Janta High School polling station.
Acting swiftly on this intelligence, the flying squad team rushed to the reported location. Upon seeing the approaching officials, the suspect panicked. In a hurried attempt to escape, the individual dropped the cash he was carrying and fled the scene. The personnel from the flying squad, assisted by local police, immediately secured the abandoned money.
A thorough count revealed that the seized amount totaled Rs 50,000. The cash consisted of 100 notes of Rs 500 denomination each. Despite efforts to apprehend him, the suspect managed to evade capture and remains at large as of the latest reports.
Police Investigation and Legal Action
Inspector Dnyaneshwar Ware of the Sindkheda police station provided details on the follow-up action. The police have formally registered a case under the relevant section for bribery. "We have registered a case under section 173 (bribery) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)," confirmed Inspector Ware.
The officer further stated that a primary objective of the investigation is to uncover the motive behind the cash distribution. "The suspect will be traced to investigate why he was distributing the money," Ware added. Following standard procedure, the Rs 50,000 seized by the flying squad has been deposited in the government treasury.
This incident highlights the ongoing vigilance exercised by election monitoring teams during the local body polls. The use of flying squads is a critical measure to ensure the electoral process remains free, fair, and devoid of malpractices like voter inducement. The Sindkheda police continue their search for the unidentified individual to bring clarity to the case and uphold electoral integrity.
