NEW DELHI, MARCH 30
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday suspended the head of Flying Squad Team of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu for not checking the cavalcade of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate A Raja.
In an official release, the poll panel said that the entire Flying Squad Team has been replaced following the incident.
There were media reports stating laxity in checking the cavalcade of A Raja at an interstate check post near Kerala’s Coonoor.
Following the media reports and a subsequent inquiry by the Returning Officer and also the Expenditure Observer, the head of the flying squad team, Geetha, was suspended as the poll panel found lapses in the performance of election duties.
The vehicles in A Raja’s cavalcade had several suitcases, bags and other items which officials are said to have not properly checked.
The expenditure observer also visited the spot and made enquiries. He also viewed the two videos recorded by the surveillance teams.
The videos show casual checking by the officials. The other cars in the cavalcade were also not checked.
Flying squad teams are the grassroot level officials of the Election Commission, who keep a close eye on illegal cash movement, bribing voters, and model code of conduct violations.
The Nilgiris will vote on April 19 in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024. DMK’s A Raja is pitted against BJP candidate and Union Minister of State L Murugan from the constituency.
