E-Paper
TN cash-for-votes: Supreme Court refuses to hear plea
“As elections in the state of Tamil Nadu are over, we are not inclined to entertain this petition,” said the bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a plea complaining against the increase in cash-for-votes practice in Tamil Nadu during the Lok Sabha elections, saying the polls in the state were already over.
“As elections in the state of Tamil Nadu are over, we are not inclined to entertain this petition,” said the bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The SC had earlier sought Election Commission’s response on the petition that wanted the poll panel to create awareness through TV, newspapers and radio against purchase of votes and inform the voters that it was a punishable offence. Filed last week, the petition had said so far ₹78.12 crore in cash has been seized in the state.
“That case of the petitioner is that there are reports in all the leading newspapers and TV channels regarding cash-for-vote in by-elections, Lok Sabha elections and state assembly elections. A survey report also speaks about the increasing cash for vote practice in Tamil Nadu,” the petitioner had said. The plea also alleged that all political parties openly paid cash for vote to the voters in Madurai, Thirumangalam by-election held in 2009. The petitioner had asked for an increase in the number of flying squads appointed by the EC to control cash-for-vote and effective monitoring.
The petitioner had said a ₹10,000-crore case was arriving in Tamil Nadu and the recent seizure of ₹11.5 crore from a cement godown in Vellore district by the I-T investigation wing substantiates the allegations that huge cash was being used for votes.
