Keep strict vigil to curtail unaccounted cash, liquor during elections: MCC Nodal Officer

HYDERABAD: Model Code of Conduct (MCC) Nodal Officer and Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) wing of GHMC director Prakash Reddy has called upon the officials to be vigil and curtail the unaccounted cash and liquor during elections.

Prakash Reddy on Wednesday conducted an awareness meeting for the flying squad teams (FST) and video surveillance teams (VST) at GHMC office. He cautioned them to be vigilant of temptations during the polls and ensure smooth conduct of the election in 15 Assembly constituencies in Hyderabad district.

The MCC Nodal Officer said that FST and VST should submit a daily report on the action taken against the violators of the MCC. The flying squad teams should be alert and they would be continuously monitored through the GPS track system. "All the incidents will be monitored through CC cameras. The flying squad should take surveillance video recording during the seizure of alcohol, liquor and other items as part of election management," he said.

Prakash Reddy said that the video surveillance teams should record the meetings, banners etc. of the political parties. The cash seized by the flying squad teams should be submitted to the court and the cash for which no FIR had been registered should be submitted to the District Grievance Cell (DGC Hyderabad Collectorate). This cell would examine the relevant evidence and if there was no criminal charge, the money would be handed over to the concerned persons, he said.

"As per the Election Commission of India (ECI) norms, people are only allowed to carry cash less than 50,000, and for cash above 50,000, they have to show relevant documents. People should be educated about the temptations made by the political parties. In the case of huge cash in houses, people should alert the income tax officials. Candidates participating in the election should keep their expenses within Rs 40 lakh," the MCC Nodal Officer said.

Election Expenditure Monitoring Nodal Officer Sarath Chandra said that if the election candidates did not show their election expenses, there would be a possibility of dismissal under Section 10A. "According to Rule 88, the public is also empowered to calculate the election expenses. The accounting teams especially incorporate SOR (Shadow of Register) FC (Evidence) from time to time.Paid News will be examined by MCMC and Returning Officer (RO) will give notice to election candidates within 96 hours on favourable and critical news," he said.

Sarath Chandra said that the candidates who received notices in connection with the paid news should provide their reply within 48 hours and the cost will be recorded in the election account of the candidate. Complaints received through the cVIGIL app should be answered within 100 minutes, he said, and added that the flying squad team should reach the place within 15 minutes of receiving the complaint through this app and submit their report to the RO within 30 minutes.

The RO should submit the relevant petition to the higher authorities within 50 minutes to drop or dispose of it. Citizens could report their complaints through photos, video and audio on the cVIGIL app. Apart from that, the flying squad teams could also lodge complaints on the cVIGIL app through suo moto, Sarath Chandra said.