Three containers with 570 crore cash was stopped in Tamil Nadu's Tiripur district.
Highlights
- Cash being transported with Reserve Bank of India's authorisation: SBI
- Vehicle numbers didn't match documents, arising suspicions, say officials
- Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on May 16
The State Bank of India has said the Rs 570 crore seized by the Election Commission in Tamil Nadu yesterday belonged to the bank and was being transported with Reserve Bank of India's authorisation.
The bank in a statement has said it was 'erroneous' on the part of the poll commission to seize the cash which was being transferred from its main branch in Coimbatore to another branch in Visakhapatnam.
"To address a temporary cash shortage in Andhra Pradesh, the RBI has authorised transfer of Rs 570 crore from our currency chest in Coimbatore main branch to our special currency administration branch in Visakhapatnam," said the SBI statement.
Election Commission had stopped three trucks with Rs 570 crore cash in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district. Even before the trucks were opened, the drivers had claimed the cash belonged to State Bank of India.
"As per RBI instructions, our Coimbatore main branch released the treasure to the authorised SBI personnel, duly escorted by a team of Andhra police. But the convoy carrying the cash was stopped by the EC officials enroute and brought to Tiruppur collectorate for further scrutiny," the statement added.
Officials said that the vehicle numbers did not match the documents which aroused suspicion. However, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni had said the vehicles were likely be released soon if the paperwork was in order.
The Election Commission has so far recovered over Rs 100 crore unaccounted cash in Tamil Nadu since poll notification in March. The state will go to polls in a single phase on May 16.
Keeping in view the abuse of money power in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission had last month also issued some special instructions to be followed by observers and members of the surveillance teams deployed in the state.
The Commission had sought "stepped-up vigil" across Tamil Nadu to detect and intercept cash and other inducements being used to lure voters and ensure that a level-playing field is maintained.
The counting of votes will be held on May 19.