Tourists Confront Officials After Election Squad Seizes Cash in Ooty
In a tense situation at the Nilgiris collectorate on Thursday, groups of tourists from northern India confronted officials a day after election flying squads seized their cash in Ooty. The visitors, who were left stranded without funds for basic necessities, demanded the return of their money, highlighting the strict enforcement of the model code of conduct in Tamil Nadu.
Cash Seized During Routine Checks
According to official sources, the incident occurred during routine checks on Wednesday in Ooty, a popular hill station. The election flying squad seized Rs1.40 lakh from a group of nine tourists from Odisha and Rs60,000 from a group of seven tourists from Gujarat. The seizures were made because the individuals failed to produce supporting documents for the cash, as required under election regulations currently in force.
"During a routine check in Ooty on Wednesday, the election flying squad seized Rs1.40 lakh from a group of nine tourists from Odisha, and Rs60,000 from a group of seven tourists from Gujarat, as they were not carrying supporting documents," an official source confirmed. The model code of conduct mandates that cash exceeding Rs50,000 be seized if proper documentation is not provided.
Tourists Left Stranded Without Funds
The tourists reported being unable to purchase food and water since Wednesday night and struggled to vacate their hotel rooms due to the lack of cash. They emphasized that none were carrying individual amounts exceeding Rs50,000, arguing that the seizures were unfair.
"Each one of us was carrying around Rs30,000-Rs40,000. The cash – Rs1.40 lakh – was not seized from an individual. Sometimes online transactions won't work due to poor connectivity issues. That's why we were carrying liquid cash," said Deepanand, a tourist from Odisha. This statement underscores the practical challenges faced by visitors in remote hill areas with unreliable digital payment infrastructure.
Official Response and Inquiry Process
Following the confrontation, the affected tourists were taken to the revenue divisional officer's office for an inquiry. The official source stated, "After the verification of relevant documents, steps will be taken to return the seized cash." This indicates that the process is underway to resolve the issue, though it has caused significant inconvenience to the tourists.
The incident raises important questions about the balance between election enforcement and the rights of ordinary citizens, especially tourists who may be unaware of strict cash-carrying rules during the model code of conduct period.
