District level committee takes action to return the seized amount

Raipur. The process of returning the amount of less than Rs 10 lakh seized by flying squads and static surveillance teams during the Model Code of Conduct in the state for the Assembly general elections is done by the team formed at the district level. A district level committee has been constituted in every district to avoid inconvenience to the common citizens and people in genuine need of transportation of money and to resolve their complaints. The Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat, the Nodal Officer for expenditure monitoring in the District Election Office and the District Treasury Officer are included in this committee. If the amount seized by FST and SST exceeds Rs 10 lakh, such cases are handed over to the Income Tax Department, where refund is processed by the Income Tax Department as per law.

Every case of seizure of less than Rs 10 lakh is investigated by a district level committee. If the Committee finds that no FIR or complaint has been registered in respect of the seizure as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), or where the seizure is not related to any candidate, political party, any election campaign, etc., the Committee may Takes immediate steps to issue release order for its return by issuing a speaking order regarding release of cash. The committee examines all the cases of confiscation and takes a decision regarding their return.

The process of appeal against confiscation is mentioned in the confiscation document. At the time of seizure of cash, the concerned person/persons are also informed about the same along with a copy of the seizure deed. All types of information regarding release of cash is maintained in a register by the nodal officer of expenditure monitoring. This register is numbered and date wise. It contains details of the amount of cash blocked or seized and the date it was released to the person/persons concerned. Election Commission of India has issued guidelines to immediately bring all cases of seizure of cash etc. done by FST and SST to the notice of the District Level Committee so that action can be taken on these cases as per rules. The Commission has directed that under no circumstances shall cases relating to seized cash or valuables be kept pending in the Malkhana or Treasury for more than seven days after the date of poll unless an FIR or complaint is lodged. Has been registered. It will be the responsibility of the Returning Officer to present all such cases before the Appellate Committee and release the cash and valuables as per the orders of the Appellate Committee.