The flying squad of the Election Commission seized Rs 64,500 cash from a car parked outside the poll campaign office of Shiv Sena candidate in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on Monday, a police official said. The raid was carried out in the early hours by the EC’s staff near Central Park in Tulinj area where the poll campaign office of Sena’s nominee Rajendra Gavit is located, he said.
The action was taken following a complaint by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi activists, including Vasai-Virar mayor Rupesh Jadhav, who alleged that cash was being distributed to lure voters, he said. Based on the complaint, the car parked outside Gavit’s office was checked by the police and EC staff, who found Rs 64,500 cash in the vehicle, he said.
During enquiry, the police found Shiv Sena MLC Ravindra Phatak and his supporters at the poll campaign office, he said. The Tulinj police filed a complaint against Phatak for being present in the constituency even after the campaign was over, the official said.