Maharashtra: EC seizes cash near office of Shiv Sena's Palghar candidate

The flying squad of the Election Commission seized Rs 64,500 cash from a car parked outside the poll campaign office of the Shiv Sena candidate in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Monday, a police official said.

The raid was carried out in the early hours by the Election Commission staff near Central Park in Tulinj area where the poll campaign office of Shiv Sena nominee Rajendra Gavit is located, he said.

The action was taken following a complaint by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi activists, including Vasai-Virar mayor Rupesh Jadhav, who alleged that cash was being distributed to lure voters, he said.

Based on the complaint, the car parked outside Gavit's office was checked by the police and Election Commission staff, who found Rs 64,500 cash in the vehicle, he said.

During inquiry, the police found Shiv Sena MLC Ravindra Phatak and his supporters at the poll campaign office, he said.

The Tulinj police filed a complaint against Phatak for being present in the constituency even after the campaign was over, the official said.

Phatak violated Chapter 8 of the Model Code of Conduct, which mentions that any political personality, who does not belong to the constituency, should not remain there after the campaigning gets over, he said.

An investigation was on into the incident, he added.