Flying squad seizes Rs 50 lakh unaccounted cash linked to TVK candidate’s relative

An election flying squad in Tamil Nadu seized Rs 50 lakh in unaccounted cash from a man believed to be a relative of a candidate contesting from the Lalgudi Assembly constituency , officials said on Friday.

The seizure took place at Valavanur village near Lalgudi after authorities received a tip-off through the election control room , triggering a late-night raid on April 2.

According to officials from the Revenue Divisional Office , the cash was recovered from the residence of A. Neelamegam , a 65-year-old resident of the village. Sources indicated that Neelamegam is related to TVK’s Lalgudi candidate Ku Pa Krishnan , although authorities are continuing to verify the circumstances surrounding the money.

Lalgudi Returning Officer K. Srithar confirmed that the operation was carried out by an election flying squad , which immediately acted on the information received through official monitoring channels.

Given the large amount of cash involved, the Income Tax Department was also alerted. A team of IT officials joined the operation along with the static surveillance team , ensuring that the search and seizure followed election monitoring protocols.

Officials said the cash could not be immediately accounted for through valid documentation, prompting its seizure under election expenditure monitoring rules . The Election Commission deploys flying squads and surveillance teams during the poll period to prevent the illegal movement of money meant to influence voters .

Authorities are now examining the source of the cash and its intended use , and further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

The incident highlights the heightened vigilance of election authorities as polling approaches, with teams across Tamil Nadu closely monitoring cash movement, campaign spending, and potential violations of the model code of conduct.