EC seizes Rs 52 lakh worth cash, gifts

CHENNAI: Surveillance squads appointed by the Election Commission for the by-election to Sankarankoil Assembly constituency have seized unaccounted cash to the tune of Rs 48,37,120 and gift articles worth Rs 3,96,659. Besides, the EC has registered as many as 75 cases against various political parties for violation of the model code of conduct.  The EC has intensified enforcement of the model code in Sankarankoil by increasing the number of teams and squads. As many as 12 flying squads are on rounds all day and night, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said in a release here.Separate surveillance teams have been posted with videography facility for all the ministers (both State and Central) and top level leaders of all parties at the rate of one for each, the CEO said. He added that the deployment of the Central Armed Reserve Police Force is expected at any moment in the constituency.