(With PTI inputs)
The Integrated Command and Control Room will run 24X7 till all the election processes are completed, the Telangana CEO said.
Published Nov 18, 2023 | 9:41 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 18, 2023 | 10:21 PM
(Representational image/iStockPhoto)
In a record of sorts, enforcement agencies of the state and the Union government have seized cash, gold, liquor, drugs, and freebies worth ₹603 crore since the release of the schedule for the upcoming Telangana Legislative Assembly elections, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said on Saturday, 18 November.
Cash to the tune of ₹214 crore, gold, and other precious metals worth a total of ₹179 crore, liquor worth over ₹96 crore, drugs/narcotics valued at over ₹34 crore, and other freebies worth over ₹78 crore were seized, it said.
Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj has set up an Integrated Command and Control Room in Hyderabad to monitor the ground-level issues in real-time, including operations of seizures, Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, and campaigning issues.
This Integrated Command and Control Room is a collaborative workspace where the CEO reviews the situation in all the 119 Assembly constituencies in the state and makes decisions based on the information sent by ground-level teams in real-time and, if necessary, in consultation with the Election Commission of India (SCI), a statement from the office of the Telangana CEO said.
The Integrated Command and Control Room will run 24X7 till all the election processes are completed, it said.
Since the release of the schedule (on 9 October) for the ensuing Assembly elections, the “1950” helpline received 1,987 calls. As far as the complaints registered at the National Grievance Redressal Service (NGRS) a total of 20,670 complaints were received and out of this 20,301 were resolved, it said.
Through the District Call Centre, 4,673 complaints were received and 4,543 were resolved, the release said.
As many as 5,183 complaints were received through c-Vigil and were attended to. So far, 22,254 permissions were given through the Suvidha portal at district/constituency levels to candidates/political parties, it said.
The second randomisation of EVMs is conducted at the constituency level in the presence of observers and candidates/their representatives, the release added.
On 25 October, the Hyderabad police said that their Commissioner’s Task Force Central Zone Team arrested two individuals and seized ₹10 lakh in an operation aimed at cracking down on a hawala money-transfer racket.
The cops had arrested two Congress workers for allegedly trying to woo voters by distributing pressure cookers at Gopanpalli Thanda on 9 October. They were distributing pressure cookers allegedly on behalf of Serilingampally constituency Congress leader Raghunath Yadav.
On 10 October, the Commissioner’s Task Force (North Zone) and the Banjara Hills police in Hyderabad seized unaccounted-for money worth ₹3.35 crore during a vehicle-checking operation in Banjara Hills.
During the inspection at TV9 Signal Junction on Road No 3 in Banjara Hills, the passengers of a vehicle were found behaving suspiciously, leading to a thorough search. Subsequently, the unaccounted-for money was found concealed in the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed that Chimpireddy Hanumantha Reddy, an employee of a private firm, and the other individuals in the vehicle were involved in the collection and distribution of hawala money across the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
The Congress has earlier lodged a complaint against the police to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar regarding poll-related checks. The party claimed that these checks were inconveniencing the general public.
The Income Tax (I-T) Department has formed Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in all 33 districts in Telangana and deployed 150 officers for election duty.
It said a round-the-clock control room and Complaint Monitoring Cell had been set up to receive information or complaints from the general public regarding cash and other items intended for illegitimate use in the election process.
The Complaint Monitoring Cell can be contacted at:
- Toll-free number — 1800-425-1785,
- Landline 040-23426201, 23426202,
- WhatsApp, Telegram – 7013711399,
- e-mail: cleantelanganaelections@incometax.gov.in
Furthermore, Air Intelligence Units (AIU) have been set up at Begumpet Airport and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport for 24×7 surveillance in coordination with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The AIUs at all other airports in India that have connectivity to Hyderabad have also been informed to be on alert and monitor passengers travelling to the Telangana capital.
The Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) app is being used for the first time by the ECI in this election for verification of seizure reports.
Polling for the 119-member Assembly would be held on 30 November, while counting of votes would be taken up on 3 December.
(With PTI inputs)
