ITANAGAR, April 3 - In the highest-ever cash seizure so far by the agencies appointed by Election Commission (EC), the Flying Squads have seized a whopping amount of Rs 1.80 crore at Pasighat on Tuesday night, just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s public rally there, according to State�s Additional Chief Electoral Officer Kanki Darang.
Incidentally, Pasighat falls under Arunachal East Parliamentary constituency, which is being contested by State BJP president Tapir Gao.
�The Rs 1.80 crore seized by the flying squad team at Pasighat has already been referred to the Income Tax department,� informed the Addl CEO Wednesday evening, while dodging the question whether any case was registered in this connection.
He informed that till date, the total unaccounted cash seized in Arunachal Pradesh since model code of conduct (MCC) came into force has increased to Rs 5.50 crore.
Giving details about the latest seizure, Darang informed that the Flying Squad stationed at Pasighat, acting on a tip-off, recovered the cash of Rs 1.80 crore from two parked vehicles � one, bearing registration number AR-09B 3797 (Scorpio) and another white coloured Fortuner bearing number AR-01K 0009 � at the premises of Siang Guest House, Pasighat last night at about 9.30 pm.
He said that as per information available with him, Rs 1 crore was found from the vehicle (AR-09B 3797) owned by BJP candidate from Mebo constituency Dangi Perme�s son Christopher Perme and the remaining amount of Rs 80 lakh from the Fortuner, which is registered under the Deputy Secretary, Transport, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. The amount was claimed to be of ex-MLA Ralom Borang.
Reportedly, the second vehicle (AR-01K 0009) was part of Chief Minister Pema Khandu�s convoy.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress has alleged that a raid on the convoy of CM Khandu, Deputy CM Chowna Mein and BJP�s Arunachal president Tapir Gao has �found Rs 1.8 crore in cash that exposes the brazen corruption and poll violation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a rally in Pasighat at 10 am today�.
Demanding the resignation of Khandu and Gao, the Congress said the sensational �cash for votes� scandal has exposed the BJP. �Was this cash reportedly transferred for PM Modi�s morning rally in Pasighat today? Is it not a clear case of �Chowkidar� becoming �Chor�?� it asked.
However, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has refuted the charges and claimed that �cash for votes� is practiced by the Congress, not the BJP.
While admitting that he got the information about cash seizure this morning only, Khandu said the matter is under the investigation of the Election Commission, adding that he has also urged the party president to look into it.
