Reporter’s Diary: When seized cash causes headache for govt treasurers during election

The election officials released data pertaining to the cash and other valuables seized by the flying squad teams, periodically, but they did not tell the public what happened to the seized cash. And corporation officials claim that they bear the brunt of aggrieved citizens.

But a Chennai Corporation official who was seemingly disgruntled over the tedious process of releasing the seized money lamented to this reporter about how much he hates the election works.

“We stop vehicles and seize cash if they don’t have proper accounts for the money. It would take just five minutes to seize and complete the formality. When the owners of the cash approach us with documents, we are the ones who suffer due to procedures,” he said.

He also recalled an incident that was occurred before the polling day and said that he had seized cash from a businessman and the next day the businessman came with valid documents to reclaim his money. 

“As the seized cash was handed over to the government treasury, I should sign papers to release the seized money. I spent a whole day with the businessman and that was my worst day. Why the treasury people have too many procedures?”

After all the trouble he had given to the businessman, the official clicked a picture of handing him the cash for the documentation purpose. “He would have cursed me while smiling for the picture,” the official quipped.